“Come on let’s see if we can go in?” My friend Gary and I were outside of one of the most beautiful mosques in the world and we were trying to figure out if Americans were allowed in at that specific time. I was standing in the court yard looking through a crack in the window and very afraid we were going to get in trouble. There weren’t any people out where we were and we both didn’t speak or read the language. For all I knew we were intruding during a holy hour. Gary wouldn’t take no for an answer though. I had been willing to let my fear keep me from the blessing but he wasn’t. He convinced me to at least give it a shot and we went behind the building to what looked like the visitor entrance. Turned out we could go in as long as we put on the proper coverings and so we picked out our coverings and headed in.
Once we were inside Gary met me at the railing between the men and women sections and smuggly whispered, “Now can you really tell me that looking through a crack would have been enough?” Looking up at the gorgeous ceiling and ornate designs he knew my answer. How often in life do we let fear and uncertainty keep us from taking the road less traveled and striving for God’s best. I was standing outside of a beautiful national landmark and was going to settle for looking through a crack in the window. It happens too often in life that God gives people a glimpse through a window at what life could be if they are willing to step out and trust him. We catch that glimpse but then we get distracted by the present, we are content with what we have and settle instead of going after God’s best. Letting the what ifs keep us “Safe.” What if… it’s too hard, I look stupid, it’s scarry, I mess it up? The list of excuses is endless.
This trip was another window in my life, one I have been looking through for the last 6 years. Every time I had moved towards it different obstacles have appeared. Finally this time things seem to be lining up and I am so glad that Jesus is the Gary in my life. His challenge was, “I came so that you might have life and have it to the fullest.” He is constantly whispering to my heart, “Are you sure you’ll be okay just looking through the window?” I am excited to behold God’s best for my life because His best is always worth the Cost, and being “Afraid” is never a good reason to settle for less.
