I pulled the handle. It didn’t budge. “Great,” I thought, “I’m wide awake and trapped in this little room.” I kept tugging on the door, sure now that it must be locked. People are stirring, watching my pathetic struggle. “How embarrassing,” my thoughts mumbled. “I’m pretty sure it’s locked,” said a voice from a not too distant bed. I tugged again, but to no avail. It had to be locked. It even sounded locked when I yanked on it.
As I began admitting defeat, just before I turned around to return to my restless bed, one of the girls got up and pulled the door handle. It opened with ease…without the slightest hint of hesitation. “What the heck,” I thought to myself as I chuckled with embarrassment. I whispered a thank you, then stepped out into the cool, Chilean air.
I knew I was going to have to walk off this untimely energy that was, no doubt, due to my five cups of black tea I had earlier. I dreaded the thought. “I just want to get a good night’s rest. Why God? Why am I up?” I began to walk in short, back and forth paces, in an attempt to wear myself out. Then God whispered His answer.
“Many of life’s moments are like that door. You try once, maybe twice, don’t succeed, then admit defeat. You may physically keep trying, but the truth is that you’ve already given up in your heart. You listen to the voices that agree you are stuck. You get frustrated with those who walk though the doorway without trouble. But, my child, don’t lose heart so quickly. Press on.
When life’s doors are jammed, call on My strength. Don’t wear yourself out first, trying to prove you can do it on your own. Don’t you think I know the door is stuck? I am the Carpenter. I designed it that way for your benefit. I want you to call on Me, so that I may come and open the door for you. No embarrassment. No shame. Please, just call to Me before admitting defeat.”
As I continued to paced back and forth, I marveled at such a great lesson from such a seemingly insignificant moment. I am grateful for His patience, His kindness, and His wisdom. I’m learning to be teachable, and to let Him love me well.
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This month has been very difficult. As an Unsung Heroes team, we are tasked with finding new contacts for future race teams to stay and work with. This means we do not have a guaranteed place for eating or sleeping. Everything costs more (a treasurer’s nightmare). Miscommunication is at an all time high. Stress….lots and lots of stress.
But even greater are the ways God has provided for us. Even greater are all of the ways He has taken what the enemy wanted to use to pull us apart, and drawn us closer to Him and each other. It’s difficult, but we can appreciate His blessing more, knowing the heartache it took to get there. It’s sweeter than it would have been if we had just had His blessing handed to us from the start. We have to step out of the way to let Him open the doors.
So be teachable. Love, and be loved. Know when the door is jammed, He is waiting for you to let Him open the door.
