Today John Ortberg discusses common myths five and six about doors in Chapter 4 of All the Places to Go.
5. There is always a right door for every decision. Pastor Ortberg quips that we’ll never make it past breakfast if we buy into this myth. When we wear spiritual blinders, we have tunnel vision and fail to look at all our options. Bishop J. Brian Bansfield offers these words of advice when we fret that we don’t know what God wants us to do:
“Actually, there are eighteen things that God would be very happy if you chose. . . . There are six billion people in the world. You’re telling me that God looked at you and said, ‘There is only one thing that you can do in your life, I know it and you have to guess it or else?’ Could it be that you are putting your constraints on God?”
John notes a significant difference between the words perfect (unblemished excellence) and perfectionism (moral obsessive-compulsive disorder). We are called to be perfect. There is no one right way to make a person or a single right door for every decision. God gives us choices because choices develop our character.
6. If you want something bad enough, God has to open a door so I can get it. Johns succinct response: “Nope. He doesn’t.”
Today’s question: How have you place constraints on God following your vocation loss? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Counter-factual thinking”
