We took a whirl wind trip to Texas to see some friends this weekend which gave us time to talk about anything and everything. My mind has been 90 to nothing for weeks and sometimes things just get jumbled up. We started talking about our plans and all the what if's that follow that.
Specifically, we sauntered down the path of closed doors. It seems just when we get a plan together and start working towards a goal, the doors start closing. It's easy to lose my focus and get closter phobic. What if He wants me to stay right here in this part of life? What if the doors will never open?
Then something occurred to me. What if He asks us to take a leap of faith NOT so that we will achieve the goal, but so that He CAN close the door on us?
What if the closed door IS the plan?
Seriously, that's enough to send me into a flurry of fear. I'm a planner. A goal setter. And I don't like closed doors.
I'm specifically thinking about when God told Abraham to take His son to the alter as a sacrifice. Can you imagine even thinking about sacrificing your child? Yet, Abraham obeyed. A part of the story that I had not really thought about was when Isaac pointed out that there was no lamb to sacrifice and Abraham replied "My Son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." (Gen 22:8). Talk about faith!
We all know how the story ends...as Abraham lifted the knife, God provided the sacrifice outlet. His son's life was spared and Abraham passed the test. But, the question for me is...have I really laid my dreams at the alter? Am I waiting for His provision, rather than blindly pushing my own will?
....Blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. Genesis 22:17
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9 comments:
I hope all the doors open for you ... but most importantly I hope His will is done... better to have a door that He closed than a door that WE opened. :) right? :)
^Exactly! :)
God may close a door...but he always opens a window! New follower of your blog!
Tif
Ramblings of a Southern Belle
http://www.her-southern-ramblings.blogspot.com
I struggle with fear too when I'm afraid God's going to "sacrifice" my dreams. But I know it's okay, because He loves me and He has great plans for my life, to give me a hope and a future! Thanks for the reminder :-)
I love that story of Abraham. I've been studying him a lot the past few months, since I picked up and moved "to a land I did not know" much like him. One of the things I've learned is that, just like you said, sometimes a closed door doesn't mean we're on the wrong path. It's just part of the journey, and I think we tend to learn MORE from those times when a door shuts in our face than those when they swing freely open and we walk easily through!
This is fantastic..i cannot imagine that kind of sacrifice but He definitely sacrifices for us all the time!
^So true!
Lovely! ;))
Hope you're having a blessed day and feel encouraged today, knowing that God's plans for you are better than anything you can imagine! That helps me, to remember that truth. Thank you for sharing!
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