,Doors. Throughout life, we are confronted with doors. Doors of Uncertainty. Opportunity. Insecurity. Doubt and Fear. There are times when we are faced with a door that we eagerly await to open. We can’t wait to waltz through that door. It may be a door we have anticipated for a very long time, like our wedding day or graduation. Other doors, however, may not leave us with the same emotion. The door of insecurity can be quite gripping as you turn the knob to enter a room full of strangers. What will they think of you? Will they think your outfit is cute? Will they like you?
The door of opportunity may be one that fills your stomach with a herd of buffaloes running wildly in the open range.
A job interview. A first date. However, once your nervousness subsides and your sweaty palms become more tolerable, you realize that this moment is exciting. This could be the moment you have been waiting for! Something new. Something challenging and exhilarating all at the same time.
Then there is the dreaded door of uncertainty. You are not sure what is behind this one.
In fact, you didn’t even see it coming. And even if you did, there’s no way you could’ve prepared yourself. This door of uncertainty is where I sit today and ponder. Putting myself in the disciple’s shoes as they watched their friend Jesus be crucified. In their heart of hearts, they believed that He was their Savior. They thought He would come and reign as king. They imagined being a part of a vast and wealthy kingdom. Their thoughts could not fathom that Jesus would actually die.
As the stone was rolled in front of the tomb, the reality settled in. It was over. Their hopes of ruling seemed so dismal. All they were left to do was mourn the death of their friend. They could not see beyond their circumstances.
How could this possibly turn out for any good?
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.” Isaiah 55:8
There are some problems that can’t be solved, but rather they can only be endured.
There are some things on this side of eternity that we will never understand the “why”. I have two very close relatives that are in the fight of their life against cancer. I love them both dearly. The chemo treatment is excruciatingly difficult, long and painful. It wears on not only the patient, but also the caregiver. With everything in our being we may be tempted to shake fists at God and ask Him why…why? When we become angry towards God, we attempt to take control of the wheel. We would choose to do things differently. Secretly, we want God to change His mind.
We doubt that He has our best interests in mind.
Facing this door is difficult. It must’ve been difficult for the disciples, too. Faith is called into action, reminding us that God is in control. Fear takes over when we realize that we are no longer in control. However, faith triumphs when we face the truth that God has never lost it. He’s got this thing.
It may be too big for our britches…but God’s got this thing!
“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.” Habakkuk 3:17-19
What door of uncertainty are you facing? Will you choose faith or fear? Will you allow Him, Jesus, to meet you there…in the midst of uncertainty, doubt, and fear? Remember, the disciples had no idea that the stone would roll away. They doubted that Jesus would rise again. Although Jesus had reminded them and told them repeatedly, they didn’t get it. They could not understand. Dear friend, don’t lose hope today. Don’t give up on God. Your situation may or may not turn out as you expected, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that the stone has been rolled away! Remember, Jesus is alive! He is our hope and salvation!
Jesus is our HOPE!
“They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words.” Luke 24:2-8