Cattle vs. Daughter
A great friend, who is also one of the wisest I know, shared this with me today:
I think that God uses doors if we aren’t in good communication with him. If we aren’t in relationship, we have to be herded like cattle. I agree that there is grace, because we are like cattle a lot. But I do think we are to be in relationship with God, and that confirmation and waiting for it is about being in relationship . . .
I have a lot of friends who live by the “doors” theory, but I think what it comes down to is not rightly understanding first that they are in relationship with God, and second that they are loved. God wants to lead and treat us as sons and daughters, not as cattle, but we fail to participate in that relationship. I do think you’re right about the key being focusing on God rather than doors, but I think the focus also needs to be on your relationship with Him as His beloved daughter. He wants us to ask, to seek, to listen, to spend time with Him and wait for His way for us because it’s the best. We’re loved. He wants to give us everything, to write the beautiful story He has for us with no stops, to press in to Him and walk where He leads because He loves us, really loves us, and wants so much to give us and have us walk in everything He has for us to the fullest extent possible. Israel kept going the wrong way, and He kept herding them like cattle and redeeming them. Imagine if they did not disobey? The story would have been even more beautiful. They would have had all that He had written for them to the extent He wanted them to have it.
