While attending an international convention, my mother and her friends were returning to their room after dinner. After exiting the elevator, they began to walk down the hall toward their room when a flurried looking woman stopped them and hesitantly asked, “Is this the way to the parking garage?”
“We don’t think so.” a few of the women replied. “Boy is she lost!” one of the ladies commented as the woman hurried past them.
As they approached their room they noticed the door was ajar. They cautiously peeked inside. Thankfully, there was no one in their room. But unfortunately, their belongings were gone. Even the air freshener they had placed in the bathroom, had disappeared. Being an optimistic soul with rock solid faith, Mom immediately began to share a testimony. It was about a woman who had purposed to be thankful while suffering in a prison camp.
Mom then began to thank Jesus for everything she could think of. “Thank you, Jesus, that my Bible was in my purse! We thank you for this trial because we know that you will make something good out of it.”
As Mom continued to “practice thankfulness,” One of her friends called security.
“But this is room 308!” her friend kept saying. “Not 108” All of the sudden, several of the women rushed to the door and read the room number. Much to their surprise, they were in the wrong room. They all began to laugh uproariously.
The day I read in Mom’s journal about her wrong room encounter I had been praying about some major decisions. Even though the story was entertaining to me, I couldn’t get my mind off of the open door.
Sometimes you and I will find ourselves standing in the hallway of life in the midst of many open doors. Just because a door is open doesn’t necessarily mean we are supposed to enter the room. It might not be our door or even our floor, for that matter. We can have the right hearts and still be easily distracted or deceived into entering a wrong room, especially if we are wounded or lacking knowledge of the Word or the understanding of healthy relationships.
Anytime we enter a room that brings us confusion and isn’t full of the God’s promises for us, instead of standing firm and practicing thankfulness while ignoring the obvious, we should immediately pray for wisdom. Sometimes God will cement our feet in an unfamiliar place in order to grow us and bring us revelation. But more often than not, He will lead us to take a quick exit so He can direct us to the room He has prepared especially for us. The room that sits behind the right door on the right floor.
Be abundantly Blessed!
Jeannie Boatright
“For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints” (1 Corinthians 14:33 NKJV).
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5 NKJV).
” Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path” (Psalms 119:105).
Be abundantly blessed!
Jeannie B.