“When God closes one door he opens another”
what happens when you find yourself waiting in the hallway?
One door closed and the other yet to be opened?
What then?
Well….you take one step at a time and put your trust in him.
That’s what.
So simple yet something that has taken months to finally sink in.
we have found ourselves in a “growing season in our walk” . God is stretching our faith and tested us in areas we didn’t even realize needing tending.
It’s almost like a “reset”‘or a “‘do over” but what started out as unintentional has switched to completely intentional on our part and here we are “in the hallway” patiently waiting for God to intervene on our behalf.
It wasn’t always like this.
We lived our lives in the comfort behind “one door” and now we are moving towards another.
We weren’t living the life that he had designed or wanted for us. But with closed off ears which sadly, we never even noticed.
From June until the end of November 2013 our family learned first hand what it was like to have daddy work out-of-town.
At first it looked like an amazing blessing.
A change in careers, change in site and a raise.
His shift was 10 & 4 so he worked 12 hour shifts for 10 days straight and was home for 4.
Really if you count travel time he was really home for 2 days.
Off early his last day of work he would drive 4 1/2 hours home one way.
When the weather changed and the roads started to get bad he would take an overcrowded bus home which wouldn’t get him into the city until after 11:00pm.
When he was home we would do our best to squeeze in 10 days of family time into 2 but it was hard.
We hardly went to church and it felt like all we were really doing was preparing him for another 10 days out-of-town.
I would pretended that it was like a normal 9-5 job but nighttime was an entirely different entity.
The kids missed their dad and I missed having my best friend lying in the bed beside me.
The youngest took to sleeping in my room night after night “because mommy was afraid of the dark”.
I found her snoring strangely soothing.
Summer came and went while we both worked and tried to get as much family time in as we could.
Summer quickly disappeared into fall leaving us both feeling exhausted and disconnected.
I have many girlfriends and this is how they spend their married lives.
Some fair well, others not so much.
I’m still confused why anyone would intentionally sign up for a part time marriage plus being a single mom the other part of the time.
The money is extremely good but it’s not the life we pictured having.
For ourselves or for our kids.
By the middle of September we had planned a week-long family vacation to sunny California where we were going to go to Disneyland, play at the beach and enjoy the sunshine.
A chance to reconnect, to laugh and to play.
The day before we left his job ended which throws an entirely different curve ball when you are about to embark on a vacation.
He was home for good this time.
Normally when you’re working with big oil the site shuts down for Christmas so we had already planned that he would start the courses needed for him to become an NCSO safety officers.
With a little shuffling he was able to finish the course just after the new year.
We are morphing into the family we believe God designed for us to be.
More connected to each other and to him.
To follow after him one step at a time, trusting him for our needs every day.
To be authentic in our faith walk so that people will know that we are followers of Jesus and “not a fan”.
And we want to show our kids too.
We have added a nightly meal time devotional which felt weird at first but it’s getting easier.
Because the middle two kids can read we get them to help and they seem to genuinely enjoy the conversation.
I enjoy hearing their answers and am not missing any tales of Lego characters or who got a “yellow” at school.
We just added a weekly board game night which if you know my hubby at all this is almost close to pulling out teeth.
Perhaps he doesn’t appreciate my mad skills playing candy-land?
Whatever the case the kids love it.
I would have to say that real change started after my hubby and I attended a bible study at church called <em>not a fan by Kyle idleman
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVXs0vkQNvc]
This is the first study in a long time that crawled under our skin and kick started our faith into a place neither one of us had been in a long time.
Our quiet time with God has increased and we are becoming more aware of changes that we need to make to draw into a deeper and closer relationship with him.
We are tithers even when it was sporadic but we never gave it a second thought if we were putting the money where he wanted us to.
We just put it our envelope in the plate and pass it to the next person sitting in the pew beside us.
But when your intentional about listening to God and putting the money where he wants it to go change happen. Even if you can’t see it at first.
We are stepping out in faith in areas of our lives that has surprised a few of our closest friends but that’s ok.
It surprised me too.
Trusting isn’t always easy but that’s something he’s working the kinks out of too.
We have changed our prayers and are believing God for an amazing work opportunity here in the city.
We are believing he will be able to stay home.
No more traveling for work.
And we took it a step further.
One of my husbands dreams has been to open his own company so we took a leap of faith and opened one believing he will get hired on as a private contractor and his business will be off and running.
We have had a lot of encouragement along the way but there have been those who believe they are a “voice of reason” and have been more discouraging than encouraging.
Who’s to say where this will end up. Where we will be at the end of this year? Or even a year from now?
That’s the funny part when you’re a follower. We are going to say things and do things that will seem foolish.
We are going to believe things that are controversial and against what the world says.
I have already lost friends over comments that made on Facebook because my views and opinions are different from theirs. I’m okay with that.
We will follow where He leads even if the door isn’t quite open yet.
For now we wait in the hallway.
Enjoying Him and each other.
Exactly where I am supposed to be.
There is always a plan, even if we can’t see it. Job changes and other life upheavals can be hard, but you are right. There is always another door.
This is a beautiful post. I’ve been thinking about joining a bible study group, and you may have just inspired me!
Great post! It is important to put things in perspective.
I can’t even imagine a 10 & 4 shift, rough! Keep positive!
What an uplifting and inspiring read! Thank you so much for sharing with us!
It really sounds like you are shifting to where your heart is right now too!
Amen! Our children watch to see how we handle situations, they mimic what they see. If I am teaching my kids about Christ, I want to display Christ in my attitude and behavior instead of being a hypocrite!
True, things can changed in a moment and we need to find the strength to believe it’s for the good.
What a great post. I know that God answers my prayers, it’s just that sometimes, it’s not the answer I “thought” I wanted. Things always work out the way they’re suppose to.
My husband and I do a nightly devotional together each night that we love!
I can’t imagine having my husband away that much, I’m so glad that it sounds like he will be able to stay in town now, that must be such a relief!
I just left a job that was great money but was making me miserable. I am currently waiting in the hallway, so thank you for this post 🙂
I’ve always agreed with the sentiment that when one door closes another opens. I like your analogy of the hallway, I’d not heard that before.
OMGosh I LOVE that!!! I’ll have to remember that – we’ve been going through some major trials lately.
Yup When One Door Closes Another Opens We May Not Like Where They Lead To But You Make The Most Of It!!
My hubby used to work the night shift and it was not fun at all.
Thank you for the beautiful post!
This is a great attitude! I love your optimism. Great hallway analogy.
What a great way to look at it… I’m waiting in the hallway right now, too. I keep telling myself that the decisions I have made have been thought out and another door will open soon.
love the hallway analogy. everyone talks about the one door shuts another opens but most of us spend a great deal of time in that hallway!
It’s so true that when one door closes another door opens! Your optimism is inspiring.
Best of luck to your family with the positive changes. I’m a firm believer in the whole when one door closes thing even though it can be hard to understand at the time.
Great reminder! We need to make some similar changes around here too.
I think it’s wonderful you have such a strong faith in something. I hope life brings you more ups than downs.
No matter what your faith, looking on the bright side is always beneficial.
There is always something around the corner… just look for it
Thanks for a beautiful post! I really believe that when one door closes another one opens.
I can relate to a lot of what you have been through. You sound very logical and you have a lot of faith. It is exciting to see what is in store for your family.
This is a great post, very positive and uplifting. May God continue to bless you.
Wonderful quote! There is a lot in everyones hallway.
This is such an inspiring post! I know what it feels like to not know what the future holds. It can be scary. But you know WHO holds your future and he is ALWAYS there for you. Thank you for sharing this 🙂
Life can sure throw us some curve balls, but it sounds like you have found your inspiration in how to deal with them. Good for you!
such a well written post! I love the perspective and the reminder of the faithfulness of God, even when we have to be patient in the meantime. thank you!
I loved your optimism and faith. I also believe sometimes you have to shut the door yourself and open a new one. Sometimes you just can’t wait for an “accidental” door. Glad life is heading in the direction that’s right for you all!
I definitley think when one door closes another opens. We don’t always see what’s in front of us at first, but that is why life is a journey!
I read the introduction to Kyle Idleman’s book a few months ago and was moved beyond my beliefs. The concept of being a fan of Jesus Christ came at a time in my life when I was really questioning what it was to be like Christ, to follow him and to live like Christ. It couldn’t have come at a better time – it stepped right in the middle of my whole construct of emulating Christ like behavior and shattered it. I understand. I’ve lost some friends and the confidence of some family members, but I’ve found so much more and I’m not afraid. Awesome, awesome post.
Elizabeth you should read it in its entirety. We use this as a churchwide Bible study so that pastor would preach on it on Sunday then we would watch the DVD series that went with it during Bible study and we would read the book At home.
Life changing!!
These are the times when faith is most important. Can you imagine not having that to cling to? I hope you’ll see that there will be many, many doors from which you can leave the hallway.
This is really the epitome of “If God brought you to it, he’ll bring you through it” with an added ounce of “when one door closes, another opens!” Sometimes you create your own doors as well. Beautiful post.
I love this post. Sometimes, we have to learn to sit back and see what God is actually trying to show us, rather than what we want to see from him!! hugs!! Thanks for sharing.