WHEN WE LOCK GOD OUT: THE TRUTH ABOUT LOVE AND SEPARATION

The church door I ran out of over forty years ago.

Little Miss Independence slammed the bathroom door. Grandma was shut out. She was locked in.

The separation felt like forever.

As long as I can remember, closed doors have led me to panic.

I've shut myself in; I’ve shut people out. Either way, my imagination runs wild like the unseen faucet that turned on with a screech.

"Sweetie? Are you OK?"

Anxiety builds with the silence. Fear appears with the unseen.

But faith comes when we remember this:

Inside or outside of any impossible situation, God is on our side.

His Word says that nothing can separate you from His love, but what if you can't reach the knob, let alone find the key?

What if you don't have the strength to break through what’s holding you?

Sometimes your own independent streak can block your view of God's love.

As I considered calling 911, Little Miss's daddy appeared. Bending down, he gently spoke to her through the barrier that kept them apart: "Honey, do you know how to unlock the door?"

The knob jiggled ever so slightly, the only answer Daddy needed to go into action.

He reached up and ran his hand along the door jamb to retrieve the only key that could open the door.

"Before they call, I will answer," God said in Isaiah 65:24 about the people He loves.

You might say, "I got this” to everyone else, but God hears your heart's cry—the jiggle of uncertainty inside.

Even before you knew you needed to be set free, God sent His Son to die on the cross for your sin. Now nothing can separate you from His love through Jesus Christ, your Lord.

Jesus holds the key to every room of your heart.

Love always finds a way.

No matter how many times you've slammed the door in His face, your Merciful Father is waiting to rescue you.

His grace is stronger than any barrier on earth.

That's what Little Miss Independence discovered when the door flew open and her daddy was waiting with open arms.

"Hey!" Daddy said.

"I opened it," Miss Independence said proudly.

I laughed, remembering I used to think that too. Now this Grandma knows the truth.

In our hurt and confusion, we shut God out. But He sees through our pain; He hears the jiggle deep inside.

He'll spare no cost. He'll waste no time.

Forever and always, His love will open the door.