Faith in Christ is our master key. However, when we see doors of uncertainty arise, we often choose to trust in our planned-out thoughts rather than walk in faith with Christ.
Faith Is The Master Key To Receiving God’s Promises
During my last semester of nursing school, I found myself sitting in the nurse manager’s office of the emergency department. She asked whether or not I enjoyed my last clinical weeks as I floated around the hospital with the assigned STAT nurse.
I fumbled for the right words and instead of a well-thought-out sentence, I quickly responded with; “Hands down! Without a doubt! Sign me up!” She let out a chuckle. And asked what I thought about the ER.
In my head, I loved it but I really enjoyed my time with the routine of the intensive care unit. It is quite literally all I knew. Before and during nursing school I worked at a different hospital as an ICU tech. Having my foot in the door early gave me the advantage of extra hands-on training.
A true blessing!
God knew what I needed before I did!
So, instead of turning down this job opportunity based on what I knew, I said yes, to the surprise that awaited me.
On my first day, I met with security and received my name badge as well as a magnet key card. This key as I later realized, provided me with access to a variety of rooms – the staff lounge and locker room, the central supply room, which contained everything I would need to care for my patients, and the med room.
My new master key provided me with everything I needed to do my job well. Every room I was able to unlock gave me access to important and vital materials. As the emergency room routinely ebbed and flowed with patients, the supply rooms never seemed to dwindle. The inventory supply manager kept our stock well-maintained.
We were never left to hunt down gauze pads, IV needles, or syringes.
In an urgent situation, I always knew that behind every door I opened, I would walk in and find what I required to care for my patients.
But yet, when circumstances arise in my own life, I consistently forget to stay present, resting in God’s goodness. I know and you know; He is the master key to unlocking spiritual treasures. However, in my ability to regulate what I can, I grab hold of the key I have authority over.
A profound revelation!
I am driven to control what I can to reduce my stress level. I am much too busy to allow confusion and doubt into my heart. No way Jose.
In my great attempt to reduce the size of my burdens, I confuse my key for God’s key and expel all my energy, trying to control what I couldn’t. In other words, I try to outstretch the truth by believing in a misleading thought.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:11; “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,…”
Fabricating Certainty
The Bible tells us God works all things according to His will (Romans 8:28). But what WE like to do is fabricate our thoughts into reliability.
It is more manageable and less aggravating than stretching our faith.
The Galatians confused their faith by falling back into old testament law. The same sentiments threaten us today. You see,
- We show up to church on Sunday because we know we should.
- We read our Bibles because as Christians this is what we are supposed to do.
- We pray out of responsibility and not out of want.
We like to check boxes off our to-do lists because it makes us feel good. These are the things we can do within our limits. And when our key starts opening doors of uncertainty, we turn to the comfort of rules and regulations we understand, thus restricting and shutting the door on the spiritual freedom God gives.
I never once stopped and thought about the supply door I was about to go through at work. I instinctively knew what I needed was behind a galvanized steel panel. Doesn’t it seem like walking by faith would be less complicated if we just stopped getting in our own way?
Burnout arises when we sprint the race without God.
Jen Schreiner
Sustaining our expectations of wants and desires will require us to sacrifice our time with Christ.
As women, and as caring mothers, we do until we are forced not to do because we burn ourselves out. Our heart’s desire is to invest in our children’s lives and those around us. Faith without works is dead, but life without Christ is death.
Jesus explains to us frankly in Matthew 6:4; “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Our hearts cannot be devoted to Christ if we are stretching them into serving others without placing Him first. He is our master key to opening doors we could never ask for or imagine.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” – Matthew 25:34
Let’s Pray Together
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank you for the opportunity to serve you. Today, we ask that you forgive us for trusting in our own plans and not yours. We know you make things new. We pray for your spirit to lead us and guide us with our decisions. Please help us to pursue you first above every dream and passion you have put in our hearts.
In your precious name, we pray, Jesus – Amen!
Read More on Jen Schreiner
- Embracing Uncertainty – How to Deepen Our Relationship with God
- How to Move Forward When You Feel Stuck
- Recognizing Our True Enemy: A Call to Focus on Faith
- The Power of Godly Friendships – 5 Key Qualities
- Why Isn’t God Answering My Prayers
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