Crushed and Seized Opportunities

"When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."~Alexander Graham Bell

Have you ever gazed upon an opportunity and failed to seize it? Did you regret it later? I know I can say "yes" to both of those questions.

When God gives Jacob an opportunity to see Esau again, he shrinks from it. Jacob literally fears for his life at this opportunity to see his brother again. After all, the last time they saw each other, Esau desired to kill Jacob, right? So it's pretty logical to see why Jacob sends gifts in front of himself to Esau [doesn't he know that giving gifts doesn't satisfy people?! ;)]. But God had a different plan. He wanted Jacob to see Esau again. After Jacob sends his animals and servants ahead of him -- not to mention wrestles with God! -- he finally sees Esau face to face. I wonder how much time Jacob must have imagined this moment. I wonder what their expressions looked like when they saw each other for the first time after many years. I wonder if they wondered why God had offered them this time to see each other again. I wonder ... well, Jacob shows reverence to his brother by bowing "seven" times (obviously he was anxious). What if this was your brother? You couldn't find the words, the love, or even a simple joke to break the ice -- all you could possibly do was bow in shame and fear in the presence of a brother you had wronged greatly in your youth. Esau must have dreamt about this day so many times; seeing his brother and inflicting the pain he had felt. And he does just that, right? No. Instead, he runs to meet his long lost brother, embraces him, and weeps. You know a man's moved when he cries in front of so many people! Haha ;) But Esau didn't care -- and neither did Jacob -- because the only thing that mattered in the crowd of people were each other.

When He gives you an opportunity -- especially one that scares you -- do you take it? Do you try your hardest to reach the open door or are you too busy looking at the last opportunity you missed? Do you know He's called you to do something, but let it sit in the back of your throat until you feel sick to the stomach? God presents each of us with an opportunity! He opens doors all the time and wants us to enter through them. He wants to use you. Do you think you're not worthy of the job? Look at David, for example, who lusted and murdered for a woman. Did God not use him in amazing ways?

Even Isaiah 30:18 says, "Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him." He knew David would mess up. He used it as an opportunity to show His abounding grace to David, and thus exalt Himself by showing mercy to David. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorow. He bestows the same grace and mercy to us -- every single day. Open the door to your life so He can use you as an opportunity for others to find God's redemption. Find His will and seize it -- carpe diem!

I love this quote by Charles R. Swindoll that, "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it." When He beckons you, how will you react? Will you open the door or slam the door in His face?