When The Elevator Doors Close

Romans 8:38-39 “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~ESV

I have a memory of me when I was attending pre-school on the campus of Tennessee State University here in Nashville. The pre-school was in a building just across the street from Historic Hadley Park. How do I remember something I went through during my pre-school era? Well, it is because it was terrifying. My mother and I were about to get on an elevator. When the doors opened, I went in, like we always do. Now, I don’t remember what I was preoccupied with, but whatever it was, I didn’t realize I was on the elevator alone. My mother was talking to someone and she did not see me get on the elevator. When the doors shut, I turned around and realized I was by myself. Cut off from my only resource, my mother. I was terrified. I remember yelling and screaming because I was so afraid of being alone. 

In life, anxiety, fear and confusion lead us in the direction of our mistakes. They also lead us to make some bad decisions in our lives. We may not know it, but it comes from an embedded fear of thinking we are alone. We think we have to do things by ourselves. We think, if we don’t decide who will? What we don’t realize is, as God’s children, we must totally rely on God’s direction in our lives.

When we go through our ‘elevator’ experiences in life, we must learn to stay calm, because God will never let anything happen to us. Just as the scripture above says, nothing can separate us from God and His love for us. Not even a pair of elevator doors.

My mother eventually got that elevator to come back to where she was. And when those doors opened, I ran to her and hugged her with tears in my eyes. I remember her saying to me, “Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you.” Today as I remember her saying that, I not only hear her voice as clear as if it were yesterday; I also hear my Savior’s voice as well saying the same thing. Today, I know that I am not alone. We must continue to build our relationship with the Father so that we can hear Him when He leads. Knowing that he will bring that ‘elevator’, the one we are trapped in, right back to him and open the doors to a new level in our lives. A level we will have earned in the endurance of our fears. 

Knowing that we are not alone is the first step in embracing our calling as servants to the Most High. Knowing that God will always direct our path and never allow anything to separate us from Him. May God continue to bless you with power, protection and wisdom as you journey in Jesus’ name.

Amen

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