“You’ve already told me this four times. You don’t need to tell me again.” The customer service woman on the phone snapped at me.
Do you ever have days when you need more everything? More trust, more patience, and more strength for circumstances that leave you feeling short?
I’d made several phone calls, been on hold for an hour, and now the woman from the airline was telling me she couldn’t issue me a ticket. My sweet dad was coming from New York to visit us in Izmir, Turkey. We were thrilled and thankful until a severe snow storm closed the airport in Istanbul and left Dad trapped in a hotel for two days.
This was not what you would want for your 73 year old father whose wife of 25 years had passed away 8 weeks earlier.
The first day I’d taken a deep breath and kept praying for God to bring Dad to us quickly. By day two my patience eroded. I knew that in a backlog of thousands of snowbound passengers, Dad could be lost in the shuffle.
After several hours and lots of prayer, the airline issued the ticket, but I was convicted by how easily my peace and joy were zapped. Once again I realize how desperately I need more of Jesus in my life. Have you had days like that?
The good news is that Jesus always responds when we open the door and invite Him in.
“I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength – that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite Him in.” Ephesians 3:16, 17a (MSG)
Will you join me today in opening the door and asking Jesus to come in?
Who doesn’t need more of Jesus?
When we fall short on patience, hope, gentleness, and love, Jesus comes and takes over if we let Him. His Spirit empowers us with a strength we didn’t know we had if we’ll open the door and invite Him in.
Whatever circumstances you’re facing today, join me in whispering a prayer and calling on His name. He’ll come with whatever we need. When we open the door and invite Him in, He comes.
I’m linking up with Kate Motaung’s Five Minute Friday. Writers all around the world join in a flash mob of free writing. This week’s prompt was “Open.” Join us over at Kate’s place for fun and encouragement.
Also joining Susan B. Mead’s #DancewithJesus and Barbie Swihart’s Weekend Brew.
I would have been a nervous wreck if my daddy were stuck in a hotel far away from me. But YES, Jesus wants to bring the answers and the peace. Let’s continue to open the door and let Him in. Happy weekend!
Thanks Barbie. Circumstances totally out of our control CAN make us nervous wrecks. But I’m opening the door to Jesus today! You have a good weekend too.
The trick for me can be not making it a revolving door…I invite Him in, and then something else happens and I usher Him out.
Must be very confusing for Him…
Great post!
Andrew, you area brilliant! Not making it a revolving door. That is true! We usher Him out so often. Actually, I don’t think Jesus gets confused by our revolving door minds. He knows our weakness. Can I quote you on that some day???
Betsy, I would be SO honoured if you would quote me…you just made my day.
I do like to think of Jesus as puzzled, head cocked to one side, a little smile on His face, saying to himself (while looking at me), “What on EARTH is that nitwit thinking NOW???”
Kind of like the way I look at a couple of my Pit Bulls sometimes, when they absolutely insist that the cat in the yard is REALLY a monster from outer space, and IT IS HERE TO EAT US!
Oh, I’m so glad he made it! I know those desperate feelings when a loved one is too far away to pick up yet needing help :(. I’ll definitely join you in opening my heart today and inviting God in (and I’ll try to keep the door from being a revolving one 😉 ).
Yes, I’m going to remember that too. No revolving doors around here, hopefully.
Yes and amen. May we open ourselves fully to Jesus in all our circumstances. Praying your dad makes it safely to you and blessings upon all of you!
He finally made it in today, Mary! Thanks.
You know I love this post and you! Thankful you linked up at The Weekend Brew! Enjoy your time with your dad!
Being the recovering controller that I am, circumstances like the one you described are the perfect place for me to close the Holy Spirit down, and go into controlling/reacting mode. If I will just open my eyes to see the view from heaven, I would respond differently. God has a reason for the circumstance. I simply must bend my knee and be open to His plan and purpose. So thankful your Dad made it to you. I had hoped to visit Turkey this year, but with all the unrest of the situation with ISIS, it won’t happen in 2015. Perhaps later…. Dropped by from #FMFparty
You are right, Leah. I’m a recovering controller too, and that’s why the situation was so hard. (Well, maybe I’m not even recoverd yet. ha ha) To bad you can’t come to Turkey this year, but maybe a better year is ahead!
Leah, I need to remember to “see the view from heaven”…Yes! God’s bigger story!
Hi Betsy! I just read something that said that the strength we use to ‘gut it out’ is not the right strength. We should take a step back and let God fill us with his very own power. I really loved that!
I have been to Turkey, and it’s gorgeous. Are you from there? I wish I could go there again!
Blessings,
Ceil
No Ceil, I’m from Texas, but we’ve lived here 13 years as a family, and I spent 2 years here as a single before that. Thanks for sharing that about gutting it out! That tends to be my style, but I need God’s power!
Oh, Betsy, I’ve been there! Dealing with customer service people and loosing my joy! I need to remember to keep the door open and invite Him in to all my situations. Wonderful post!
You and me both, Ellen. Let’s invite Him in!
I’m so thankful he always comes in when we invite him. Lord knows my patience has been zapped a few times this week with my husband being gone. PTL he will be home tonight! I’m so glad your dad arrived safely, Betsy. Praying for you all. Much love to you, friend.
I am so glad your husband is coming back! One week is a long time, especially when you have littles. Thanks for the prayer. Love to you too.
Hey Betsy … visiting from Barbie’s this morning. And your bright colors … teapot, the daffodils, are simply music for this spring-starved girl. Thanks for breathing life into my day!
;-}
Thanks for stopping by today, Linda. Glad you liked my daffodils! 🙂 I took this picture just last week.
Yes, He does! It’s just up to me to invite Him in! Thanks for the encouragement to do so, Betsy.
I appreciate your stopping by here today, Holly! Have a great Sunday.
This is a beautiful story – of how we do get upset – then realize we needed to lean into Jesus to keep our peace. I know I need to remember that lots. Keeping Jesus in the centre.
Would love you to link to Sunday Stillness.
Blessings,
Janis
Thanks for your encouragement, Janis. I’ll check out Sunday Stillness. 🙂
The good news is that Jesus always responds when we open the door and invite Him in.
AMEN! Thank you Betsy. Move over, I think I may have been in a similar place with you and now wanna share that seat with you AND JESUS!
I’ll move over and share that seat for sure, Susan. Blessings on your day.
Oh, I definitely need more JESUS! In every area of my life, every situation, every thought. So thankful your father made it to your home safely. Praying for you, sweet friend!
Thanks for praying, Sabra!
I love the message version of that scripture, Betsy! I’m afraid of how I may have reacted in your situation – yikes! That is a wonderful scripture to remind us that we can invite Him in anytime. Thank you!
I love that message version too, Kristine!
I’m your FMF Neighbor and I kept forgetting to come by and read your post. This was lovely to read. I always love how everyone takes the prompt and goes with it in their own way. This reminded me of the old saying “When god closes a door he opens a window.”
Thank you Beth Anne. Yes, God opens windows of grace for us at every turn.
Betsy, I’m so thankful your dad arrived safely and hope you’ve been enjoying a wonderful visit with him! Thanks for sharing what God reminded you in and through an understandably frustrating situation. Thank you also for sharing The Message version of the verse from Ephesians. It paints such a lovely picture of Jesus, not forcing His way into our lives but waiting patiently and lovingly to be invited in.
I need more of Jesus, too! I’m sure in your circumstances I would have been so frustrated. I’m thankful your daddy got to you safely.