Carl stood at the door waiting for us to call his name to come along on a journey. But today, Carl wasn’t going to be able to come. Instead of joining us for a fun episode of life, the door was shut in his face.
How often do we wait at the door of opportunity to have a door shut in our face? We can be so excited about life one moment and then the next moment, we feel like God has played a joke on us.
It is during these times of trials and suffering, with no entrance in sight that we are forced to take our focus off of what is on the opposite side of the door. It is at this moment that we are provided other options, ones that we may not choose, but ones that have to be faced.
Most of the people Jesus interacted with had doors shut in their face. Individuals just like you and me that were locked out of the dreams that they had based their happiness on. Some chose the path of bitterness and resentment that left them facing the locked exit.
But then there were the few that understood Jesus’s power to show them an upward direction that would transport their earthly journey to a spiritual one.
There was a Gentile woman that knew what life was like to have doors slammed in her face. Her daughter was demon possessed and was suffering. This mother had heard about the miracles that Jesus had performed and believed that He was from God.
The woman respected Jesus’s mission. He had come specifically for the Jews but she had to try. So when she engaged Him in a conversation about dogs eating crumbs, Jesus opened the door of healing. (Matthew 15:21-28)
As we drive down the road towards our destination, I can’t help but think about the door that Carl is facing. Hopefully, he will realize that he needs to look beyond the door until we return. If not, he will be staring at a shut door for quite a while. Poor Carl.
“Some chose the path of bitterness and resentment that left them facing the locked exit.” Very profound. This was an insightful post. Thank you, Cora.
Terri, the funny thing about this situation is that after closing the door to Carl, I thought back at where he was and wished I could be back home behind the closed door. We were out in the elements for eight hours and realized that he was living in the better place. Again, I am convicted by the fact that I need to be grateful for whatever situation God puts me in. But I am surely glad to know that we have an eternal home just waiting for us!