When you hear the phrase "behind closed doors," what do you think? I always seem to assume that it is something secretive, and the knowledge imparted or the business shared is just for certain people. It always makes me wonder when I hear about a closed-door meeting.
God reminded me this week of how I close the door on things that are going on in my life. We all have trials or life struggles that we might be dealing with that the outside world has no idea about. I cannot tell you how many times my answer to the question, "How are you?" is usually "fine" or "good" when I might actually be dealing with a very difficult situation where there is chaos or turmoil in my mind and sometimes in my life.
I am not trying to deceive or lie to anyone, but I honestly think it is a question that we all answer that way quite often. Sometimes it's because there is just too much to explain, sometimes it's because I don't think others will understand, and sometimes it's just because I am emotionally exhausted and I just don't have the energy to go through and try to explain.
Truthfully, sometimes it's because what I'm dealing with or what is happening in my life is a behind-closed-doors situation. Not in a bad way, but in a manner that it's just not an issue that I would want to share with everyone.
At times, the reason might be that I don't have a relationship with those people. When you have a developed relationship, you feel the freedom to share. There have been instances in our lives when we have dealt with some very serious situations with our daughter, who has special needs. They have been extremely painful and serious. We have been in situations in the past when we have had to make very difficult decisions that would affect our family. There have been times when my husband has lost his job in unfair circumstances, and we have had to deal with not only the job loss but the financial strain. All of the above situations, times, and trials in my life are where I go to my faithful, trusted, and praying friends. They are the ones with whom I share my behind-closed-doors issues.
But the reality is, there is one person who knows all my behind-closed-doors issues. I don't even have to say anything, because God knows. He knows them even before I do. He also holds the answers to all those items that we only talk about behind closed doors.
I have a small group of friends that I can go to and share almost anything that is going on in my life. I know these friends love me, will pray for me, and will help me in any way they possibly can. No matter what I tell those friends, though, there is no way they could come close to the comfort, love, peace, guidance, and care that my Heavenly Father offers me.
I don't even have to tell Him all the details - He knows. I don't have to explain my emotions - He knows. I don't even have to close the door to tell Him - He knows. He is my faithful, constant, loving, caring Father who has the key to all my closed-door issues.
In John 10:9, God says He is the door, and if we enter with Him, there is salvation. He has the key. In Matthew 7:7, scripture says we must ask, seek, and if we knock on the door, He will answer it. God is listening, paying attention, and hears our prayers when we call on Him. He opens the door.
Matthew 6:6 says, "But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." God wants us to be honest and open when we come to Him with anything, but especially when we don't understand the trial we might be facing. He wants to be our key to the behind-closed-door situations in our lives.
I know and believe He provides those trusted friends and relationships in our lives. We need each other, and relationships are vital to our well-being. However, He is the only One who can handle, provide, and lead us through the very difficult situations that we all face at some point in our lives.
The question is, who do you depend on and call upon when you have those behind-closed-door situations? I'm talking about the times when you have no idea how they will work out. Trust me when I say God is the answer. He can handle anything and He wants us to come to Him.
I have been listening to a song this week and the chorus has been stuck in my head. It says, "If you ask me how I know that He is real, How I can believe that He's still with me in spite of how it feels, If you ask me why I trust Him when it feels like everything has come undone, All I can tell you is I've just seen too much."
Trust Him. Behind those closed doors, He will show His goodness, mercy, patience, and faithfulness. He will meet you there if you just ask. I can honestly say I trust Him because I have seen too much not to trust Him. What about you?
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Jill Johnson finds spiritual applications in her everyday experiences as a wife, mother, grandmother, and Georgian. Jill is retired from the Georgia Baptist Mission Board and is available to speak to your church's women's gatherings. Reach her at jjohnson@gabaptist.org.
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