Who’s There?
“Knock, knock.”
Those two words comprise the opening line of many lame jokes, so much so that when heard, the victim typically begins to groan before the second “knock” is uttered. But, being a good sport, the poor wretch selected for this joke of a joke will usually reply, “who’s there?”
As I was praying the other day, I found that God was revealing to me that the some of the things I’m afraid of or unsure about are actually part of God’s plan for a greater relationship with him. And this is not a new thing. Here is the picture that came to my mind. It’s hard to convey but I have tried and I hope it helps you somewhat.
Imagine yourself sitting in a shell of self protection. This shell has not been formed because you don’t desire to do something for God; although not everything is crystal clear, of course, generally it hasn’t been formed because you don’t understand what to do. But for whatever reason, it’s been programmed in your mind that its better not to do anything “abnormal” and stay in this shell, because then you can control and minimize the damage and pain if something backfires.
Maybe it’s a weird concept, but if God were to come to you in this state and ask you to do something for Him, that request might be something that would seem to be dangerous or wouldn’t make sense to you. But that’s because we can’t see past this shell of “damage control.” The knock comes on the outside of our little shell: it’s Jesus calling us to a dimension of increased faith.
We hear the knock, but our “stinkin’ thinkin’” tells us that this voice — this knock — is just another failure waiting to happen. Jesus is shaking our little shell and our mind thinks it’s a horrific event. But breaking out of that fear will liberate us to see things we couldn’t see before. It will allow us to experience things we’ve dreamed of, but never imagined that they might be just outside the limits we’ve put on ourselves and on God.
In fact, the very thing you are afraid of might be what God is calling you to do. Does it seem scary right now? Fear of failure, of what others think, of rejection, and of emotional pain: all of these bombard our faith, telling us to stay in the shell. “It’s safer in here.” But staying in a nest is not how you learn to fly.
I’ve found out over and over again that once you step out on His word, there’s nothing greater! Talking an absolute stranger into being baptized is one of the most amazing things that has ever happened to me. Most recently, the “sacrifice” of time He asked me to make is turning out to be one of the sweetest parts of my day. So over this next week I would like you to ask yourself, and search your heart — is there something your afraid of? Maybe it’s a big thing, maybe not. But ask God again “is this you calling me?”
I challenge you: the next time your knees begin to knock with fear, ask “who’s there?”
I have noticed in my personal walk with God that I oft hear the knock on my shell of “reality”, constructed of misconceptions and wrong assumptions.
I wish to allow God my all, but as stated so aptly by Nathan I take the stance that when I follow His will I will be hurt.
This fallacy is proved wrong time and time again as when I crawl out of my shell and venture into the great world God has for me, I see that we can “Do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”
Great Article Nathan *two thumbs up*
Reflecting on life, it’s natural to try to protect ourselves. But if God’s plan takes us outside our comfortable surroundings, it’s a sign that the borders of our life are too small.
I guess the lesson here is not to scream and kick so much when He tries to expand my horizons!