The Door that Pain Built

​ THE BEAUTIFUL DOOR

There is a door that is beautiful to me. My best friend, who loves me most, bought and paid for it. He paid for it with His life so I can use it – and, boy, do I!

The door is Jesus Christ. Jesus says, No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6). It’s clear that Christ’s painful death and glorious resurrection provide the only way to God the Father. It’s the only access I have to communicate with my Creator. My friend, this is not an actual door, but my heart and mind see it as the entrance to the Throne of Grace.

This door has two purposes. God’s love flows to me through this door, and through this door, I run to God. This image of running through the “door” to speak to God has become more real and precious to me over the years.

I have been coping with chronic pain afflictions for 35 years. The blessing from this affliction has been that I spend much of my day and night running to Him to pray, to beg, to thank, to lament, to praise, and to lay my burdens down before Him. I use the door a lot!

RUN TO JESUS WITH YOUR HEART’S CRIES

The Bible is clear that Jesus is not just a door, but He is the door. To those who know him as Savior, the door never closes! For a moment, picture a little girl, hurt and weeping, running as fast as she can until she comes to the door of her home. She bursts through the door, finally sees her dad, and throws her arms around his legs, sobbing into them, telling him everything that has happened, everything that is wrong, asking him to please fix it, please fix her.

This is what heartfelt prayer is like sometimes. When I am overwhelmed and don’t think I can handle much more, I start running up the now well-worn path that my pain and suffering have carved out. I run through the door that Christ’s pain and suffering built for us and begin to tell Him everything. I am addicted to prayer and strengthened by it. Why are we so weak when we can flee into God’s divine, tender strength?

ENTERING THE DOOR THAT PAIN BUILT IS LIFE-CHANGING

Are you suffering today? Is there just too much pain, a broken relationship, a lost dream, an incredible burden no one knows about, or an emotional or mental upset you cannot set right? The door of grace stands open to all believers. The truth is that God is more ready to hear our prayers than we are to ask. We are so quick to call someone to share our problems, but I encourage you to “Go to the throne, not to the phone.” (Joyce Meyer)

Dear readers, for those of you who know Christ as Savior, be encouraged because God’s Word is clear:

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

For those of you searching for such a mercy-and-grace-filled life, hear what God says in His Word:

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7).

Have you ever thought: I need God Himself to speak to me!! –? Well, then, just read the verse from Matthew out loud! It is God’s Word, His voice speaking to you.

Let me warn you that passing through this door is life-changing! Every single person going through this door will be changed every single time. That is what prayer can do.

PRAYER

Dear Father, send Your light, truth, and love to lead us to the door, Jesus Christ, that we may enter Your throne room. Help us lay our burdens before You, O God, our exceeding joy! Amen

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION 

1. Do you have a place (a door, a chair, a room, a garden) where you can go to meet with God, talk to Him, and revel in His presence? If not, could you create one?
2. What burden(s) can you surrender to Him today?
3. Is there a joy or cause for praise you could delight in with Him today?

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Okay, you might be saying to yourself, I really do want to go to the Father and pray, but how do I even start? Thankfully, Chronic Joy has a lovely printable resource containing 50 Prayer Journaling Prompts to help get you started.