Beyond the Open Door

       

        Why do we believe that when God opens a door in our lives that what lies on the other side will be easy? We often determine that if it’s God’s will for my life all will go well and the path will be smooth; however, I’ve come to realize when God opens a door in your life, he places before you a choice. The choice often presented is the opportunity to stay in comfort and security, or risk it all for the spiritual growth beyond the open door. 

          Four months ago our family was presented with an open door. We were offered the opportunity to move to the Texas Hill Country where my husband would work at San Marcos Academy, a private Christian school, and our daughters would end their homeschool journey and transition into traditional school life. Our family had prayed for several years for the opportunity to leave the Houston area, and had prayerfully considered other positions, but none had come to fruition for one reason or another. When the door opened to go to SMA, we were confident in God’s leading to step through the open door. Little did we know hardship was just around the corner.

          I sit here this morning four months past our decision, and when I tell you of the battles we faced and are currently facing with this open door, you may think we made the wrong decision. I’m not gonna lie, Satan has thrown arrows of doubt our way taunting us just as he did with Eve in the beginning hissing, “Did God really say?” The moment doubt was thrust into the situation, the more confident I became in the truth of God’s Word that says, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). Knowing what lies on the other side of an open door would often send us running in the opposite direction, but without the open doors in our lives, we just might die the slow death of comfort, ease, and apathy, and that’s not the way of Christ. The only way to make progress in the Christian life is on the door marked: Suffering.

          I share our story certainly not to dissuade you from choosing the next open door in your life, but to encourage you to grab the knob and fling the door wide open. Why? Because what we learn on the other side of the door is worth the risk. Is it hard? Yes, but, spiritual growth happens on along the roads of life, not sitting in a church building. We can sing about the joy of the LORD on Sunday morning, but the joy of the LORD is found in the sorrow of Monday morning.

          Authenticity is the revealing of our soul. It’s allowing others a glimpse of our inner self where all the hurts, sorrows, joys, and imperfections dwell. We’re really all imperfect, but we’ve perfected the art of faking fine. We’ve subconsciously added “perfection” to the fruit of the spirit and we hide behind pretense. A couple of weeks ago, my glass house shattered as I fell to pieces in the solidarity of the laundry room. I had “faked fine” as long as I could, but the stress, disappointment, and sorrow became overwhelming.

          Just 3 short months after my mother’s unexpected death, while my heart was still grieving, we were up to our ears in moving boxes, putting our home on the market and purchasing another, saying goodbye to friends and family, and preparing to make major life changes. Four days after submitting his resignation letter at his current employment, my husband’s contract was unexpectedly terminated which left our family without a paycheck from June 16^th until September 1^st. The weekend prior, we had put a contract on a home in San Marcos, but it’s hard to qualify for a loan when you’re unemployed! God was faithful through the difficult struggle to close on our new home, as well as the months without a paycheck from school. A few days after unloading the moving truck, we were notified that we had lost the contract on our home in Dickinson 5 days from closing. This marked the 2^nd contract we had lost. So, we put it back on the market and waited. During this time, school had started, and we were adjusting to a new way of life for our family. I fought mixed emotions as my girls headed off for school, and I continued to mourn the death of my mother in the quietness of my heart. The stress of moving, starting over, and all that it has entailed has also added stress to our marriage. Yet, God is faithful. He is teaching me that suffering is the door that refines. It is the door that leads to more of Him. Suffering is the door that leads us away from worldly comfort that slowly suffocates. Suffering is the door marked, “die to self,” and how else can we truly live?

          Today we are on the precipice of losing the 3^rd contract on our Dickinson home. Needless to say, 3 months of double mortgages and bills is taking a toll financially. Honestly, I’m weary of the fight. My strength is depleted, but my God’s isn’t. When I’m at my weakest, He is at his strongest. I’m thankful I can have peace in the middle of life’s difficulties because peace is a person named Jesus. In the third of seven “I am” statements, Jesus declared himself to be “the door” (John 10:7). He is the only door to salvation, and he presents open doors to us for our sanctification. Is there an open door in your life that you’re prayerfully considering? God presents doors in our lives for our spiritual growth, not necessarily for the next rung to climb the corporate ladder. How does God wish to reveal himself to you? We come to know the characteristics of Christ through open doors. We can’t know Christ as Provider until we face situations that cause us to rely on his provision. We learn of God’s faithfulness as we walk through trials and our faith is weak. We know him as Healer on the other side of illness whether in this life or the life to come. We come to understand his steadfast love when earthly relationships fail and he makes himself known as Emanuel, God with us. What characteristics of himself does he want to birth in you? Are there roots in your life waiting to bear fruit that wouldn’t glorify God that need to be uprooted? The next time you encounter an open door in your life, prayerfully consider that the risk is worth finding Christ on the other side, and what you might miss if you allow the door to pass by.