Sitting At The Door: Ringing the Bell & Banging Your Head Against a Wall?

            When we were house training our dog Mojo, we hung a single jingle bell by a ribbon on the inside door knob.  The concept is fairly simple.  He learned quickly if he had to go outside to ring the bell and we’d let him out.  Last year when going out to go to the bathroom, was still a fairly novel idea to him we had some issues with our cable internet.  A worker arrived to fix the cable in the back.  Mojo started to ring the bell.  I thought the dog just wanted to bug the worker so I didn’t let him outside.  I ignored the first few rings.  But Mojo didn’t stop.  He got indignant ringing that bell.  I didn’t want to let him out with the cable worker.  He’d be in the way, I didn’t know how this man was with dogs, the back gate was open so the worker could go in and out, etc.  Mojo kept ringing the bell, and I kept ignoring him.  Finally I looked over and Mojo had chewed the bell off the ribbon and had it in his mouth shaking it back and forth.  He was whining, and doing everything he knew to do to go outside.  I still thought he was after the internet worker.  So I told him no!  Mojo waited until I was just behind him, and as if to make a point peed all over the floor!  He’d tried to tell me that he had to go. 

            I can defiantly identify with Mojo’s frustration in those moments.  He knew he was supposed to go to the door and ring the door.  He knew that is supposed to get him outside.  He was doing everything he knew to do in order to get the door to open and it still wasn’t opening. 

I know I’m not the only one who has felt a little like Mojo at that moment.  You’re at a doorway waiting for what God has spoken to come about, and you’re doing everything you know to do in order for the door to open and it just isn’t.  Frustration can be an ugly emotion.  Many of you just aren’t sure how much longer you can contain yourself. 

“But God, I’ve done what you told me to do!  Why hasn’t the door opened?”  You want to scream and cry.  It’s in those moments you start throwing fits. 

Philippians 4:6 (KJV)

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

God knows your standing at the door.  God knows you’ve done what He told you to do.  God isn’t going to leave you there forever.  The season that you are in will end.  To everything there is a season (Ecc 3:1)

Mark 11:23 (KJV)

For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

You have to trust God, that He will open the door in the right timing.  The trick is learning how to stand at the door and be at peace with your surroundings.  The trick is not growing so frustrated with everyone and everything that you throw a huge fit, and have a meltdown.  So what should your response be when you’re sitting at this divine door waiting for it to open?

Ephesians 6:13 (MSG)

^13-18 Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

            When you’ve done all, stay on your feet and keep standing! Endurance, Patience, Perseverance are all things you need if you ever want to see the plan of God fulfilled in your life.  I totally understand it’s not easy.  But you have to trust God that it’ll all be worth it.   While sometimes it may feel you’ve been at that door forever, you haven’t.  God isn’t going to leave you there, so keep trusting Him!

            Remember God has awesome plans for your life.  Get excited!