When I find myself in a situation where sin paralyzes me or I’m not where I should be, God gives me a window of opportunity to make a gracious exit. A dear friend and I were at a play one evening and decided to take the opportunity given. It was terrible production and physically uncomfortable to boot. When intermission finally arrived, we made a dash for the door and headed to the car. We both laughed out loud as we reveled in our freedom like two convicts who had just escaped from prison! God gives the chance for a gracious exit, but the window of opportunity closes quickly. If I hesitate or mull it over, I miss the chance to get away.
God has given me many such windows, and I’ve ignored as many as I have taken. The most frightening thing about God is that He will let me go my way, ignore His advice, refuse His love, and miss the opportunity to get out of that window before it closes. My problem is that I insist on tarrying, questioning, and dragging my feet. I am happy to say I’m getting better at getting out when God bids me go. Fear is what causes me to miss the opening in the first place, and I’m learning that fear flees when faced with God. The closer I get to Him, the less fear gets in my way.
Windows of opportunity open both to let me escape from my mess and to allow me enter in to what God has in mind. Fear keeps me from both windows and causes me to stay static and become stale. Stillness is not about doing nothing but rather about constant motion. The beauty of a still, pure spring is the motion taking place beneath the surface. Purity comes from movement, and it is the same with my heart. God wants me to keep moving and enjoy the journey. He also wants me to pay attention when He opens those windows and doors along the way. God doesn’t want me to miss the opportunities He places in my path, but He won’t decide for me. He knows that most opportunities only come around once in life, and the window I miss will change the course of my life and the course of the lives of those I love. I do not exist in a vacuum, and my choices make a difference in the world. I miss most windows because of inaction, which is a choice. In fact, inaction puts my choice in the hands of others. Making no decision is the worse decision I can make.
journeywithgigi 