Doors opening and closing
Gerrie wrote anxiously:
What do you do facing this mountain of debt of the relatively new business, comprising all your dreams (and money)?
I hang on, stand on hope, believe that everything will improve, that my breakthrough will come, but then reality hits me with the arrival of the legal demands. I get on my feet again when the Lord blesses me with enough funds to pay the salaries month after month (praise the Lord!), to fall once again as one or other financial crisis get hold of me.
With tears in my eyes I see how wonderfully the Lord is blessing and strengthening my wife and children in their lives and the wonderful support that they give me. They know it’s hard, but they do not reproach me; my children’s mature understanding amazes me.
Then I again see God’s grace, his love and faithfulness, his promises, and I thank Him for it. It’s just this very dark (money) cloud that has been smothering me this past year or so, and I simply don’t know what to do to get out of it.
How can one man keep standing under such relentless pressure?
The first thing that Gerrie and all of us should do is to take the all of it to God: 6Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray.
Calling for reinforcements immediately brings peace of mind. Now it’s no longer just me and my problems. I have a Partner, someone with whom I can discuss everything. He takes on some of the hardship, but even more – He helps me to make better decisions. He helps me to see which doors I should open and which I should close or leave closed.
Can you see what is happening here? I’m still responsible for the opening and closing part. So many times we pray: Lord, please open the right doors for me. Lord, close the doors where I should not enter. I wonder out loud if God should be doing all the work. What do I do to resolve the situation?
I believe that we should do the possible and leave the impossible to God. That is why we should rather pray for God to point out the open doors to us and to give us the strength to open them.
I asked Gerrie this same question. What can you do? What doors are standing open in front of you? Just now his e-mail came flying in:
I have this enormous smile on my face after reading your e-mail!
Just yesterday I ran into an old friend, a CA, who now specializes in SMEs (small businesses). I think I now have a fairly good idea what I should do. Thank you so much for the advice. The Lord works in unbelievable ways!
6Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. And do your thing!
Reflection
What are you worried about?
Are you talking to God?
What is the possible that you can do?
Prayer
Lord, I know I talk to You too little. It’s hard and I don’t always know what to do. Please become my Partner. Show me where to go. Block where I should not go and please give me the wisdom and strength to follow your directions. Amen.
