Teal is my new favorite color. Teal furniture and decorations highlight this color throughout my house. The color makes me happy. When I began this year and God placed the word surrender on my heart as my one word for the year, He also showed me pictures of teal doors over and over.
I began to create graphics to encourage myself and others through this process of surrender. And the question that continued on repeat in my head was, “what does a teal door have to do with surrender”?
At first glance, I’m not sure I know the answer to the teal door. But as God is always working, He has a lesson for me in the image of a teal door.
The image of a door brings up the idea of invitation. We are either invited into more when we walk through a door or find out that we are not welcome. A door beckons you to open up yourself to dreams you thought were just that – dreams. And when we take the chance and walk through the door, we find surrender.
Doors also can shut in our face. What looked like welcome instead becomes an ending. We say “yes” only to find out it is a “no.” Doors open and close and when we go through the process of surrender, we make a choice to walk through or turn the other way.
A teal door is just that – a teal door. God gave me this image not because it’s teal, but because it’s a door. Being a visual person, He invited me to a new understanding of surrender by using a door.
I find myself at doorways often – literally and figuratively. Life is about what you will do when the door is shut. Surrender is the answer to a closed door.
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If you are a dreamer but find yourself faced with a closed door, ask yourself these questions:
What is one step you can take today to figure out how to open the closed door to your dream?
Is there something you need to lay down in order to make space for the dream in your life?
How will you surrender to God in your daily life especially when it means you release all the control to Him?
If the answer to a closed door is surrender, then releasing control is the next logical step. It is remembering that God is in control. Even when letting go feels like free falling, God will catch you in His arms. It’s like trying to drive the car from the passenger seat. God is capable of driving the car without our help. See my latest post, HERE, to learn more about the driving analogy.
The teal door is God’s way of reminding me, through something visually appealing, how He patiently waits on the other side of the door. God knows our heart and desires our journey of surrender to lead us closer to Him. All we need to do is open the door and walk through. You may just find out that releasing control to God is the best thing you could ever do.
I pray you see many “teal doors” this week and know that God is waiting on the other side. He knows how difficult it is to surrender completely but loves to fulfill your Kingdom building dreams. Draw close to God and feel His presence as you navigate the hard and cherish the happy.
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:8,10
Blessings on your week!
Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
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Mary,
Certainly surrender – whether God is calling us to open the door and walk through or whether He’s saying, “This door does not lead to the path I’ve chosen for you.” Either way, we do well to surrender to His voice rather than listen to our own.
Blessings,
Bev xx
Amen! We are always better off following God’s lead rather than our own. I pray we all continue to let go and find the freedom in God to walk through the doors he opens for us.
How creative God is to be teaching you in this way, Mary! My mind is going in so many directions with this and, of course, I’m thinking of the scriptures, “to him who knocks it will be opened.” and “I stand at the door and knock . . .” Seeking, surrender, receiving. So many faith-filled activities on the doorstep. I pray you will find many open doors this week, my friend!
God works in amazing ways. I love the possibilities the image of a door brings. And you added to the image with the verses you referenced. Just think- how one thing as simple as a door provides a lesson that leaves us all wondering and searching for more. So glad to have you add your voice to the conversation.
Awww, Mary. SO beautiful. I like teal too. And, as Susan above said, I love what you said about the answer to a closed door being surrender. YES. I never quite thought about it that way, but you’re right. It’s when we surrender our hopes, our “control” of a situation, our expectations, that God is freed to move in our hearts and lives.
Then He has a way of opening the right door at the perfect time so we can walk through with Him.
Loved this, friend!
Love your insight! I love how God challenged me in my own writing with the same words that you and Susan commented on. I had to surrender my preconceived notions in order to make the space for these words to flow this week. Blessed by you as always.
I like teal also. AND I LOVE THIS: the answer to the closed door is SURRENDER. whew whew whew whew. That’s me doing the big sigh thing!!!!!
I did the big sigh thing when I wrote it. Actually when God gave me those words. I had to read it over and over again and understand what it really meant in my own life. Love seeing you here today!!
Dear Mary,
I love that second image, looking through the open doorway, to the closed door beyond. Sometimes those doorways do not make any sense to us, but I love the way that you have expressed giving over control and surrendering to God right there. I am being reminded of a Lindsay McCaul song from many years ago, that spoke of that very thing and helped me through a really rough surrender. Thank you so much for this reminder tonight–it was just what I needed. Blessings!
Isn’t that a great visual of what surrender really looks like? I know sometimes I am able to let go enough to walk through the first doorway only to hold on to something else and not be able to walk through the second doorway. If you think of the name of the Lindsay McCaul song, let me know. I’m intrigued. I love having you here encouraging and sharing your wisdom.
I love the colour teal too! And this is a great reminder about handing over our decisions to God and truly surrendering them- trusting him to allow the door to open for us at the right time, and having the faith to walk through it when he does.
It seems that teal is everyone’s favorite! The image of a door speaks to me as a visual person. It’s easy to forget that life with Jesus takes daily surrender and in order to walk through a closed door, we must surrender all to God. Thank you for being here.
Thank you for these reflections on surrender, Mary. It can be hard to let go sometimes, can’t it? I love this comforting thought – “Even when letting go feels like free falling, God will catch you in His arms.” Thank you! Love and hugs to you!
Yes it can! I am getting better at letting go but it is a daily activity for me. I pray you feel the freedom in free falling into the arms of God.
The door pictures are amazing! I do love the second one so much! Sometimes I wonder too, if the door is open yet just feels like I don’t have the energy to walk through. Then I have to remember the verse of Isaiah 40:31. The Lord renews our strength. It’s a constant act of surrender for sure!
I love the second picture too. I wish I had taken these photos myself. Thank you for sharing Isaiah. I love how it reminds us that we can run and not grow weary. God is present in every doorway and on the other side waiting for us.
Ah yes, we share the same affinity for that wonderfully soothing blue-green-gray, Mary …
I imagine you see a lot of this color in your part of the country. I pray you are having a good week!
Love the teal door Mary. I’m sitting here remembering all the doors He has opened for me, and walking through them trusting – like blogging, leading on-line Bible studies, and hoping someday to speak, and a book. He’s tugging at my heart.
I love knowing that God is tugging at your heart. The beautiful thing is that He will faithfully call us at no matter what stage we are in life. I can’t wait to see what He does next.