Walking Through the Open Door
When a door opens before us, most of us walk on through, especially if it is being held by a certain six-year-old practicing being polite! But is there a time when an open door isn’t meant to be “walked” through? When something looks like a good thing, or even seems like a GREAT opportunity on the outside, like a carrot there dangling out ahead of us? In our lives everyday there are people, opportunities, media, and more all vying for our time and attention. Have you ever been presented with something that looked just like what you’ve always wanted? It can be a challenge to develop discernment, but if you plan to walk after God’s plan, it is so very necessary.
Discernment comes with wisdom, experience, and trust in God’s design for our lives. Experience is developed through our fellowship with our Father, time spent at His feet, in His Word, in His presence. He has a voice and it is our job to recognize it and follow it closely. Discernment comes when you can follow a heart filled with peace and turn away from those things that leave you with none.
So what does a door represent? It is different for every single person. Mostly, it represents a choice, a transition, and a change. When God gets ready to do something new in your life, expect and be prepared for many of those distracting, dangling carrots to show up to try and trip you up! Take for example, Abraham and Sarah; both knew the promise God had made them. When so much time had passed and Sarah decided to help God out by producing an heir from her maid Hagar, Ishmael was born. He was a son, but not the promised son. The idea of Ishmael comes into play at some point in all of our lives, often multiple times in our lives. It speaks of compromise from what is deeply in our hearts. I can look back over my life and so many specific situations where I have been faced with something that seemed good but was not “best.” Hindsight is always 20/20 but, phew, am I glad someone bigger than me is paving the way!
God has a perfect will for our lives, not a “let’s settle with this and we’ll be just as happy” will. Our natural mind always will take the easy way out if we let it. But I’ve found if you follow after the peace He places in your heart, it will guide you into the very best of what He has for you. We need to be willing to let go of what we may be holding onto and to trust what God has; His plan is to do us good all our days. The phrase, “you have to give up to go up,” rings true. You may have to let go of the “good” to be ready and prepared for the “best” to show up! Walking through the open doors that God sets before you brings peace, provision, protection, and a life beyond all imagining!