Which door did you walk through today?

I recently missed a delivery and got a notice to pick up the package at the post office or fill out the re-delivery slip to have it delivered on my chosen day. Trying to affect my schedule as little as possible, rather than picking it up, I dutifully filled out the re-delivery slip and put in the mailbox. The next day, to my chagrin, the postman delivered new mail but left my re-delivery slip in the mailbox right where I put it. I retrieve the slip and call the phone number on the back of the paper and through the automated voice at the other end of the phone, arrange for re-delivery. On the appointed day I wait at home only to watch the mailman drive right past our house. Despite getting a confirmation number, I had not been scheduled for re-delivery.

Strangely, the delivery slip tells me to pick it up not at the post office that delivers our mail, but one about 30 minutes away. In the evening, we muddle through traffic, walk into the building and are greeted by a very long line. After a 20 minute wait, we walk up to the counter expectantly and hand the clerk our ticket. He takes our pink piece of paper to the back. Upon returning he looks at me with compassion in his eyes, hands me back the paper and said, "They gave you the wrong slip." Then he proceeds to tell me that the package is in fact, waiting for me at the post office close to our house.

Thankfully, the aforementioned Post Office was not only close by, but they had not yet returned the package to the sender. Mission successful.

Why do I share this with you? Because, as Christians, many situations we find ourselves in are tests. They are designed to teach us, to make us into "better people", more conformed to Christ's image. They are an opportunity to grow our faith and our character.

The moral of the story: In the end, all I had to do was travel five minutes to the post office near my house to retrieve the package. Yet, that was not the door I chose.  Isn't that often how it is in life? In hind sight we look back on an event in our lives and realize, "if we had only..." or "we could just have..."

Aside from honing my skills in patience, I was reminded that when events happen in life (especially events with real meaning, unlike this one) to pray right at the beginning for eyes to see the door the Lord wants us to walk through. I did not pray for direction at the beginning of this event, but I hope it taught me to pray for direction at the next one - however big or small it may be.

Sometimes the path that lies behind His door will be easy and sometimes it will be difficult, but we can take solace knowing it is the LORD'S path, and we are taking the route He wants us to be on.

Which door did you walk through today? Yours or His? 

I guarantee, if you choose His, while it may not always be less taxing on the flesh, it will always be easier on the soul. Always pray for direction and always take the high road. Sometimes what seems clear seen through our eyes only truly becomes clear when seen through God's eyes.

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV

Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. - Romans 12:1-2 HCSB