It was impossible to get anything done. I rubbed my face, readjusted my seat, drank my iced tea. A writing deadline loomed over my head — a big writing deadline.
Get a grip, girl. Focus!
Alas, an annoying buzzing noise loomed over my head, too. Literally.
For the umpteenth time, I looked up at the kitchen window and watched a fly in his futile attempts to get outside. For close to a half hour, he’d traced the rectangular outline of our kitchen window frame, trying to find the smallest hole through which he could escape.
Bam, bam, bam!
Again and again, he threw himself against the glass, hoping he could break free. Around he went, as if our panes of glass could be breached by the sheer force of his little fly will.
Poor guy. He didn’t realize his foolishness. The window was far too strong for his itty bitty self. But even more pathetic? In all his window-banging and glass-buzzing, he’d missed the single truth that would finally set him free:
The back door stood wide open and only inches to the left of his window.
He was so focused on the window, he’d missed the presence of a door.
As annoyed as I was with my fly friend, I couldn’t help but consider how very much like him I am. When I set my mind on something — a plan, a dream, a desire — I can be quite tenacious in my attempts to make it happen. I’m stubborn, strong-willed, determined. And I’m certainly not afraid of a little hard work. So I throw myself into my agenda, determined to do whatever it takes to get what I want.
Alas, in my tireless pursuit of my own agenda, I often don’t realize my foolishness. I’m too close, too short-sighted, too small to have any kind of perspective on the overall whole. All I can see is the window, not the door.
Then, when the plan, dream, desire doesn’t pan out, I end up disappointed and even a bit angry at God for not coming through. After all, I worked so hard to do my part.
Problem is I don’t need to work harder. I need a new vantage point, a divine one.
I need to step back from the very thing that vexes me and ask God for a fresh perspective. If I did that, if I stop trying to strong-arm my own agenda and instead asked God for His, I might discover that what I really want isn’t that far away after all.
If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
John 8:31-32 (NIV)
“If you hold to my teaching,” He said. His teaching, not my own. He knows the way I should go. He sees things I cannot see, from a perspective I don’t possess. But I won’t ever know the thrill of what’s possible with Him as long as I’m more consumed with what’s impossible on my own.
How about you, my friend? What obstacle are you bumping up against again and again? What is sapping your strength and leaving your short on hope? Perhaps the best way you can fight for it is to lay down your own effort and ask God for His.
Rather than working harder, try trusting more. Pull up a chair in His presence. Slow down, breathe, listen. Ask God to teach you His ways, to give you the wealth of His wisdom and a glimpse of what He sees from His vantage point.
Then? Look for the open door. Freedom is closer than you know.
We won’t ever know the thrill of what’s possible with Him as long as we're more consumed with what's impossible on our own. -@MicheleCushatt: Click To Tweet Leave a Comment
Michele,
Oh how pathetic I must look to God – banging myself tirelessly into that window. I can SO relate to this. It’s good and it’s bad that I’ve been known as a person who can make things happen. I’m a self starter and have not backed down from big projects. Only problem is that too often I’ve attributed “success” to me. We can work tirelessly, but if it’s not God’s will, we’ll just keep banging ourselves into that pane of glass. But, if we are working in accordance with God’s will, with the power of Christ flowing through us…WBevow! what awesome things can happen. Learning to trust, for me, has meant “releasing” my striving to make things happen in my time to fit my will. That’s simply not trust. I have found that when I take my foot off the accelerator, sit still, pray, and ultimately trust, it’s THEN that God will show me the open door through which I can not only fly, but soar. Excellent post!
Blessings,
Bev xx
**WOW!…Oops 🙂
I’m much the same, Bev. A self-starter who doesn’t give up easily. Learning to slow down and listen hasn’t been easy for me. Still learning! 🙂
Thanks, Michele–it’s so easy to fall into a pattern of window-walking, thereby missing God’s wide open door!
Blessings to you! (And I really appreciate your presence on the Communicator Academy podcast!)
Aw, thank you, Michele! Kathi and I love doing Communicator Academy together. So glad it’s helpful to you. 🙂
You just helped to stop beating my head against that “window pane” of my life right now. I am wanting to desperately to buy another home, one that me and my husband of a few years can share, make home together. Everyone who comes to my present house, likes it but never puts an offer on it. Every one we look and like, before we get down the street, someone else puts an offer on it. I am so frustrated, angry and hurt, wondering what did I do to deserve this. Today, I will just try breathing, really talking to God and letting go of trying to MAKE it happen now. That open door may probably be seen at last. Thank you,
Oretha
Oh, Oretha. Such wisdom! It isn’t easy, but I so admire your insight and determination to trust God with this process. Much love to you.
been there ! We looked at alot too and no luck then finally a few weeks later we accidentally found the house we would buy and love as our home. God already knows where you’re supposed to be and when ; leave the stress & emotional pains to him and wait and see…he has a plan !
Thank you for providing such a perfect analogy at the exact time I was feeling like that fly but couldn’t quite get a handle on it! And than you for pointing the way to the door with a reminder of how truth sets us free, literally!
I’m so glad it encouraged, Nancy. Have a great day!
Oh this is so good. I’m not doing that right now (I don’t think), but I certainly have in the past, and as my husband and I start a new venture, it’s certainly something to keep at the forefront of my mind!
Alissa, I love how you’re being proactive, preparing yourself ahead of time. So wise!
Michele, ohh how I can relate to that fly! Thanks for sharing this perspective as I’ve never even thought of myself like that, but I have to admit, I am more like that fly that I realized. Great words and reminder!
@Bev, so true , I like “ taking my foot off the accelerator “.
Thank you ladies for sharing have a great day
Jen, I hope you have a great day too, friend! Thank you for being part of this community. Appreciate you!
well written! I think it’s human nature to do what we want to do..without thinking it all threw. certainly the Israelites long ago went ahead doing everything on their own attempts & God was frustrated !!
it’s good to have drive and ambition as long as it lines up with a humble heart and alot of pre- prayer before doing our own thing ! lived long enough to know this is true..i think we are to prayerfully approach God with our requests ; leave them with him & see what he gives us. that’s no easy task as a human being who wants instant answers and to be on our way doing our thing..i have spun my wheels in my youth too going doing and not waiting on God. it never turns out good…we don’t want to be that fly caught up and overly focused on the wrong thing all the while if we just had laid off abit we could have seen the door..
My, what a simple but powerful message. Thank you so much for sharing. I thank God for you & what He has put on your heart to share. Certainly made my day
Thankyou so much for this… there are a few windows in my life where I’m hitting up against them, one of them is singleness right now. Thankyou for confirming what I’ve already been learning.
Michele,
We are such an impatient bunch of people down here. People want things done & now-right now. Often times we don’t think to consult God before rushing into projects, or making choices. We want to prove that we can do it on our own. When it doesn’t work out as we think it should we give up. The Israelites were just like that. Ten spies went to check out the Promised land. Eight saw problems. “We can’t do this. The people & obstacles are to big”. They were right. In their own strength they couldn’t do it, but with God they could have. Two spies were smart enough to acknowledge that God & them could win. If we would start out involving God in our plans projects they would most certainly work out – amazingly. We just have to wait on His perfect timing & trust His plans. It boils down to trusting God to help you through a situation.
Blessings 🙂
What a great message and one I need to hear on so many levels. Laying down my own effort in plans and asking God to open my eyes to his plans.
Well God this is my prayer open my eyes to your plans for my life, my children’s, my marriage and my masters. It’s all up to you God for you love me and I find true calmness and comfort in you. Forgive me for my wrong doings help me to let go and rest in your arms. I love you and I’m grateful for you so grateful for your guidance, grace, forgiveness and provision. Hear my prayer oh Lord, heal my son, heal me and my family.
This is my prayer, IJN, Amen
Michele, you know what I loved most about reading this post? I could hear your voice in my head. I just love that. I love that I’ve had the gift of enough time spent together that I know the tone of your voice, the rhythm of your speech, which makes the truth you share here all the more real and dear to me. This is so good. As always. Thank you. xx
Oh God is so good to give me this gentle reminder today. I am definently in the “fly” mode lately. Prayers appreciated. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for this message. For seven years, I have been that fly on the window. I have often felt like that canary in the cage that the door has been left open, but too scared to venture out. A wise older lady that I knew wrote me a note once & said to me let go & let God. I finally did when I was forced to. Today, I live one day at a time. Prayers needed as I need to be be aware of God’s direction for me.