A Norvell Note for June 1, 2021
Vol. 24 No. 21
The Open Window
Well-intentioned encouragers often say, “When God closes one door, he always opens another.” An alternate version: “When God closes a door, he opens a window.” A less optimistic response: “Unless you’re me. Then he closes all doors, bars all windows, and sets the house on fire.”
I admit I’m not a fan of the first two statements. Regardless of the hopeful truths, they convey they often seem shallow in the darkness of a crisis. My reality is that all three sentiments might resonate in our hearts on any given day in any given week.
Life hits hard, and nothing makes sense anymore. We have more questions than answers, and our dreams are fading. We struggle to maintain a hopeful attitude. We can’t find the open door, an open window, and it feels like the house is on fire.
We put it all in God’s hands and trust Him to do what is best. At least we try to. But the uncertainty is suffocating. The silence of God drives us crazy. We wish, we hope, and we pray. We long for the open door, and we search for the open window, and we wait.
So, what do we do while we wait? What can we do? We do what we have always done. We turn to the Creator of life to strengthen us, guide us, and sustain us. We rely on the truth in words like these to get through the day.
I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do;
I will not forsake them. (Isaiah 42:16, NIV)
When we cannot see the path through the unknown ways, He will provide the light. He is the open window. He will not forsake us. Hold on to Him.
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