We made it to another Saturday! We have had a busy week but I am thankful today for a slower weekend. I still have plenty to do, and I even brought work home because I am going to be gone quite a bit next week for other things so I want to stay caught up, but the fact that I slept in until 5 is just a sign of a laid back day. And it is raining, so no long walks today, I am really feeling a good stretch workout coming on today. I worked my legs really hard yesterday and I am feeling it today so that is probably perfect.
Today I want to talk about something none of us like--rejection. We have all been there in probably every area of our lives; relationships, work, our walk with the Lord. We have all had times that we thought we were doing exactly what God wanted, or we had prayed about something and we felt like God was leading us into the next chapter of our lives only to have it all fall through. We think we are not only talking the talk, but walking the walk and boom, the door slams shut. And it hurts, and we don't know where to put our hurt. We have questions like, "why did I feel God telling me to do this, I felt like everything was aligned and then it came in as a no?" Or worse, "Why did God let me have what I wanted just to take it away from me?" I have several other people in my life right now that are dealing with problems I am sure they are trying to sort through the whys. Andrew and I have been there more times than we can count. The older you get, the more you see. We have learned, as I am seeing Robert has learned from us, it wasn't rejection at all, it is refinement. God put that path in our way for His glory, it is a bridge to something else.
Let's look at 1 Peter 1:7
These trials will show that your faith is genuine, It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold.
Highlight= Being tested as fire tests and purifies gold. Explain= a closed door can feel like rejection, confusion, or failure, but often it is refinement. Sometimes we are certain we're walking into something God wants for us. We pray, we prepare, we step forward... and then suddenly the door closes. I can't tell you how many times it has happened to me. There were jobs I wanted, babies I wanted, opportunities I wanted and I thought I was asking God, and I felt Him saying yes, and sometimes I know He was. Everything would be moving right along and then the rug got pulled out and here we were. I am human so of course I would be angry, and yes, I would even be angry at God. It is no different than when a parent has to redirect a child, or keep them from going down a wrong road. The parent can see that going to a certain party could lead to a problem and they tell you no. It makes you mad, but even as a kid, deep down inside, you know they are protecting you just like God is protecting us, and refining us to use the wisdom just gained as we move forward. It is painful when this happens because it challenges what we believed. But a closed door does not always mean we missed God. It more than likely means God is doing a deeper work IN US before He does a new work THROUGH US. Gold is refined in fire. Impurities rise to the surface and are removed. In the same way, trials can expose pride, impatience, fear, misplaced identity, and trust that still needs to mature. What if the closed door was not punishment but process? What if God wants to teach us trust we don't understand, peace in uncertainty, obedience without visible reward, patience in waiting, and a faith that rests in Him.
Back in 2000, I decided it was time to go back to work outside the home. God had made it clear there weren't going to be any more babies and the guys both had more interesting lives than I did. I got a job right off the bat with the census. I tested high for their test so instead of being an enumerator, I was tasked with sitting up help centers in three counties and helping people fill out their questionnaires and answering questions. When that job ended in April, it was clear I wanted to go back to work. I had volunteered in the library at Robert's school for years and there was an opening as a secretary there. One of the librarians told me I should apply, it would be "the perfect job" for me. I prayed about it, talked to Andrew, and decided it was what I wanted to do. So I applied. I never even got called for an interview. I was heartbroken and got it in my head that me staying home for the 7 years had ruined my chances of ever getting a good, fulfilling job. Then a blind ad was in the paper looking for someone kind and energetic to do office work. Andrew saw it before I did but he told me I had to apply for it. And I did. 26 years later, I have a career that I never even dreamed possible. God knew, of course He knew.
There is an old hymn out there called Rejoice In The Lord. It has been on my mind a lot over the last few months and more so as I have seen so many going through trials.
When trying His servant and molding a man
Give thanks to the Lord though your testing seems long
In darkness He giveth a song
He makes no mistake
He knoweth the end of each path that I take
For when I am tried
And purified
I shall come forth as gold
So I looked at the cross of my Savior instead
I bowed to the will of the Master that day
Then peace came and tears fled away
God strengthens His children and purges in love
My Father knows best, and I trust in His care
Through purging more fruit I will bear
He makes no mistake
He knoweth the end of each path that I take
For when I am tried
And purified
I shall come forth
I shall come forth
I shall come forth as gold
Apply= Today, ask yourself what door recently closed that I am still grieving? What might God be teaching me through it? What has this situation revealed in my heart? How can I trust God even without answers? What new door or new growth might come from this season?
Then I have a very small thing for you to do, write down one disappointment and beside it write: "God is still working".
Respond= Father, when doors close and I do not understand, help me trust that You still have purpose. Refine my heart through disappointment. Teach me what You want me to learn. Remove what does not belong in me, and grow genuine faith in its place. Help me rejoice even in the fire, knowing You know the end of my path. When I am tried and purified, let me come forth as gold. Amen.
I am praying and watching as my friends go through these things, I know bigger things are on the horizon and look forward to seeing them come to fruition. I know many will be blessed by the outcome.
Have a great weekend,
~Mindy
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