Insight for the Journey

God swings big doors on little hinges. That has become one of my favorite statements. I’ve seen it happen over and over throughout my own life.

Early in 1989 I was scheduled to teach a four-week class in Auburn, New York. But on a last-minute urge I rescheduled myself to teach in Fulton, New York instead. It was there that I met Debbie Richardson, who later became Debbie Keener. What if I’d taught in Auburn instead? Deb and I would probably never have met.

Back in 1989, I came to Albany, New York for the first time. I was an employee of the Billy Graham Association, and was here for a preliminary meeting for an upcoming Crusade which was going to be held at Knickerbocker Arena (now the Times Union Center). I still remember driving here on I-90 East completely oblivious to the fact that God would call me to spend the best and the rest of my life in the Capital Region. Little did I know that God would lead Debbie and me to start Grace Fellowship Church. But God was leading providentially through the whole process.

Do you realize there are events unfolding right now involving people you’ve never met, places you’ve never been, and circumstances over which you do not have control, that are going to significantly impact your life and opportunities in the future? Years later, you may look back and say, “What if I hadn’t been home to answer the phone? What if I hadn’t met that person on the vacation? What if I hadn’t responded to that letter?”

For the true Christ-follower, these are not coincidences. They are God-incidences. He is directing and guiding circumstances to unfold and accomplish His will. God stands in the shadows keeping watch over His own.

A. B. Simpson said, “God is preparing His heroes and when the opportunity comes, He can fit them into their places in a moment, and the world will wonder where they came from.”

God has a purpose for your future that you may not sense at all right now. Behind the scenes He’s arranging the furniture. He’s creating the vacancy. He’s preparing your heart for you to step in. And you can be propelled into prominence in a moment. It’s important that you be alert. It’s vital that you continue to walk in His will and be faithful.

But most Christians have trouble doing that when they are walking in the shadows. They have trouble trusting that God will make all things beautiful in His time. That’s why Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. ⁶In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” {KJV}

As you prepare to face 2009, don’t fret over what’s happening. Be faithful. Trust in God and He will direct you where He wants you to be in His time.

God swings big doors on little hinges.