Doors

So here I am once again uncomfortable; with my surroundings, my capabilities, life in general.  I know this means growth but dang if it doesn’t hurt.  I feel like I have nothing to offer in the big scheme of things.  There are more qualified people that can do this!

Then on the other side there are people I know trying to check out on life, some actually succeeding.  And I wonder where did I go wrong?  I know some days I literally feel like the fire hydrant that the dog is peeing on!  But then God sends a little angel by just to say Hi! How are you doing or can I help you, or come by for coffee or I have a hug waiting for you!  That pulls me back to the real meaning of life!  What we are really here for.  We aren’t here on earth to make sure the exam rooms stay clean.  That the instruments are cleaned at the end of the day, that the paper work is all in order.  We are here to make people feel loved and needed.  If we can’t do that while we do all these other things then something is wrong somewhere.

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

That’s what I hold on to.  That’s what I pray every morning.  Lord help me do this job so I don’t come across as a complete idiot!  I did go to school, I do have some knowledge.  But sometimes it just takes me a while.  I am what you call a slow learner.  But once I learn it…I got it for life!

I think I am where God wants me to be, no let me rephrase, I know I am where He wants me to be.  He opened up all the doors to get me right here at this moment.  The same as He opens doors for you in whatever situation you are in.  I read somewhere yesterday that no man can shut the door God opens.  But I also think no man can open the door God shuts!  So if He closes that door it’s for a reason!  Be done with it, don’t look back.  We were talking in our Sunday school class how God is the one who closed the door on Noah’s Ark, simply because it was too big for anyone else. Well in our lives, some of our doors are the same way.  We go in and out of the same door; Back and forth, wishy washy! God is patient but sometimes it’s like OK, I have had enough!  Shut the door already!  Kind of like when you are at home and the kids fan the door.  Letting in the bugs and letting out the heat!  Shut the door already!

That’s how I feel.  I need to just close some doors.  He is giving me the chance to close those doors all by myself.  He knows what I am going to do before I even do it, so sometimes I am like really?  Go ahead and shut it!  Save me all this humiliation, pain, separation, heart ache!  But He doesn’t.  Once again, My God is a patient God.  Long suffering!  Steadfast!  Faithful!

Proverbs 3:3

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck write them on the tablet of your heart.

Psalm 119:114

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.

That’s where my hope lies!  In His word.  When I have a question or don’t know what to do, that’s where I go!

Psalm 33:22

May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.

In life we get discouraged.  Sometimes we throw up our hands and say that’s it!  I’ve had it!  I’m done!  But don’t let discouragement make you lose faith.  Because faith is the victory, just like that age old song we sing on Sunday morning.  We will get our victory.  We just have to have that steadfast faith.  When the devil tells me I don’t know what you think you have to offer?  I am ready to tell him I can offer My Jesus!  That’s it!  But that’s enough because if I can offer that, He can complete the rest of me!  If He wants me to do a job He will equip me!  I have to quit thinking this is me doing this!  Because it isn’t.  He gives me the knowledge and wisdom.  I just have to move over and let Him do it.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong, do everything in love!

If you mess up- apologize- make a mental note to do better and move on.  Don’t let all that garbage drag you down.  No one is perfect.  We all mess up!  And above all else, no matter what you do, and everything you do- do it in LOVE!  A beautiful 4 letter word that isn’t practiced or heard enough!

And as God opens those new doors for you to go through, have faith!  Don’t be afraid!  He is holding your hand as you go through the door and He has already been there!  He isn’t leading you into a trap, He wants you to prosper and have a great life!

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.