Friday Fight 131: The Other Door

Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help me fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF131.

In the course of a day, most of us make endless decisions. Sometimes, we decide not to by avoiding it altogether. But how often have we looked back and realized that one seemingly small decision led to incredible adventures from God that we would never have experienced if we had walked away? With that in mind, what are some helpful reminders for when we find ourselves standing in front of a door questioning the point because it appears to lead nowhere?

The Other Door:

How often have we walked through seasons without knowing what God was doing? All of us! If we raise hands, mine would be continuously extended, accompanied by laughter and sometimes tears. Seeing how God moved can be awe-inspiring once we have gone through it. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Most might read this and wonder which door is correct or at what point we should walk through it. Let's look at this a bit further.

Concerning obedience: For some, God leading us to a big door may be more apparent, but because of its magnitude, it is difficult to obey. For others, the seemingly less significant decisions may be easier to follow but are not always considered because they seem minuscule. We may walk away, not understanding the complexity of God's plan. For example, suppose a new book study God placed on our hearts later becomes a leadership opportunity. God used that seemingly small decision to prepare us later. How much later, we don't know. After all, it is just a book study. We may have seen a first date that we struggled not to overthink, yet it became a lifetime of incredible love. Maybe God revealed financial areas that required our attention because He knew our job would end or our service to Him was changing. Either way, the examples are endless. Without our faith, where does this lead us?

If all the things God reveals to our hearts are new paths to His plan, what about the doors we stand in front of that appear to be "just a room" for analogy purposes, this destination we believe is not worth our time? For this lesson, please imagine God opening the door to a beautiful space, but in our skewed perspective and angle of a hidden wall, we cannot see the other door until we have walked inside and faced it. What does this suggest? It means when we feel led to walk through a door, regardless of our perspective, we must have faith that God has a plan for our lives that we cannot fully see, much like the other door. We should remember that if the Holy Spirit continually leads us toward a person, place, conversation, or even an apology, it's God and will always be worthwhile. God places a door, but we must walk into the room to see the other door that is not visible from the entrance.

Many years ago, the Holy Spirit revealed to my heart the desire to help clean the church, and the leading was repetitive. I was shaking my head, hoping I was misinterpreting the leading, but not so. As a full-time teacher and mom, I could not understand what God had in store with another job, but I trust Him more than anyone. This surrender was less about cleaning and more about praying. God had a plan for my love of private prayer; I was praying while cleaning. Every week, the room I entered allowed me to pray for the pastors, leaders, children, and any congregation who entered. After a few years, my love of prayer led to praying publicly, teaching, and co-leading the prayer ministry instead of cleaning. It was a long process of spiritual growth, but I would only have experienced these perfectly placed room after room by accepting His first invitation. God also knew I would become a pastor and was preparing me.

If you feel led to a door or have even opened the door but are standing there with reluctance or hesitancy, take some time. Pray about God's invitation and take an hour, a day, a week, and pray for confirmation. Then, take a step in faith, trust God has you, and anticipate the outcome. You will not be disappointed in His path for your life. Be blessed in Him and by Him.

Pastor Shannon

New Life Calvert