The Ways He Didn’t Make

“This is what the Lord says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters,”

Isaiah 43:16(NIV)

Waymaker. The God who makes a way when there is no way. A path through water.

As I meditated on this story in the Bible where the Israelites cross through the Red Sea on dry land, God showed me something new.

After the Israelites made it through the path, the Egyptians chased after them. But the Sea didn’t stay parted for the enemy. It devoured them. The mighty waters crushed them.

The path that God made for the Israelites wasn’t just an escape for the righteous- but also destruction to the wicked.

I’m sure Moses and his men were very grateful for the way God didn’t make for the Egyptians.

When we follow God’s plan and path for our lives, we walk not only in the safety of obedience, but also in the assurance that the evil schemes against us can’t survive on the path of the righteous.

It might try to follow you in, but eventually it will be consumed. Because the way was not made for wicked.

“…These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.” Revelation 3:7(NIV)

I’m so grateful my God is not only a Waymaker, but also a door closer. Keeping me from paths that the enemy could follow me on. I’m thankful for the doors He has closed on my behalf. Even when my initial reaction was disappointment, because I didn’t get what I thought I wanted.

This revelation came to me in prayer one morning as I was wrestling with disappointment over a certain area in my life. I wrote it down so as not to forget. This is what was said:

“Thank You for the paths You guarded so that I couldn’t walk them.

Thank You for the men I didn’t marry, and especially thanks for the one I did.

Thank You for the jobs we didn’t take. Thank you for the ways You didn’t make.

Because for every door You closed, You pointed me back to righteousness. Like a good parent, You can sometimes tell me, No.

I won’t respond as a young child- but rather with maturity that comes from sitting in Your presence.

I won’t pout because I didn’t get my way. I’ll praise because I got Yours.

You are a good, good Father.

Thank You, Jesus for saying, ‘No.’

We trust You with the ‘No’s’ as much as we trust You with the ‘Yes.’ You are faithful. You are Greater still.”

So if a door has closed in your life, one that you thought should have opened, I encourage you now- Rejoice! God knows what He is doing.

When we are disappointed with God it is usually because He did not perform how or when we thought He should/would. I find that in my life, it is typically because my hope was in the thing and not in God.

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God..” Psalm 42:11(NIV)

Be grateful today for the ways He didn’t make for you. Praise Him for the closed doors in your life. Thank Him for saying “No.”

My daughter loves gummies. Like really. She would eat an entire box in one sitting if I let her. Because she’s two and has no idea that all that sugar will cause a horrid tummy ache, and dental issues. She doesn’t understand why I say no when I do. Sometimes she pouts about it, other times she goes on with her day. But either way she knows that I’m the parent, and ultimately I make the decision.

God is the Father. He should be the One making the decisions. We should trust Him enough to allow Him to close doors without a hissy fit. (Preaching to myself on that one.)

He sees what we cannot. He knows the end from the beginning. I want to follow where He leads, but that also means not going where He doesn’t.

God, Thank You for the ways You didn’t make.

Be Blessed!