Patience

Have you ever gone to get into someone’s car and the door is still locked? To complicate things more, when the driver tries to unlock it for you, you are too quick at reaching for the handle that the door gets stuck between locked and unlocked. Frustrated, you then have to wait for the door to be completely locked and unlocked again before you can open the door. I think that sometimes I treat my life the same way as I do the car door. I am so anxious for doors of opportunity to be opened in my life that I don’t realize that my actions sometimes slow down the process. God gave us the right to choose the direction we want to take with our lives. He is always waiting to unlock the door, but sometimes we slow down the process by rushing to get ahead. Wait patiently, and God will open the door of opportunity at the perfect time. Don’t make him have to relock the door first.
"The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for him and seek him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord."
Lamentations 3:25-26 NLT

Perfect Fit

A few months ago I borrowed a dress from the designer Tadashi to wear to the Miss USA pageant. In my mind I knew exactly what type of dress I wanted to wear. I wanted a silk dress that was short, but not too short, classy, but not too conservative, and sexy, but still young. If you are a guy, sorry if I’ve already lost you, I will try and redeem myself. Ladies, you know what I mean, right? All the original dresses I requested were unavailable. With the pageant just days away, I agreed to let the designer’s assistant surprise me with a dress of her choice. The package was delivered the day before the pageant. I opened the box to discover a pastel blue/green gown. It was floor length with a sort of mesh fabric. Nothing close to what I had imagined. I was disappointed and quickly put it back in the box. My friend Tiffany approached the gown and shook her head in disappointment. It looked boxy and unflattering. When you are going to watch America’s top beauty queens prance across a stage in swimsuits and designer gowns, you need a little confidence of your own to feel comfortable in the same room. After a nudge from Tiffany, I decided I should at least try the gown on. I took the dress once again out of the box and tried it on. As I zipped up the back of the gown, I had an instant smile brought to my face. It was as if the gown was made for me. It fit so beautifully. Though I never wear that color, or even that style, this gown had my name written all over it. I think that sometimes we create preconceived notions of how we think things should be. Whether it is a job, a relationship, or even a dress, we limit ourselves by never stepping out of the box. Our own thoughts and ideas of situations prevent us from seeing what other options may be out there. Don’t miss your perfect fit because you were afraid to step out of the box.

Jeremiah 33:3“Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”