How do you typically feel when you're standing at a door, getting ready to knock? It might be a "physical door"—like the door of a friend or family member, the door of a boss or doctor. Or it might be an "emotional door"—like the door of new opportunity, or the door of uncertainty, or the door of loss. But as you knock at these doors, are you typically excited or nervous—tired or at peace?

 

Well, as you might recall, I've got some interesting experience knocking on doors. For a summer in college, I was a door-to-door salesman. And I remember the feelings of hope, anxiety, and sometimes even fear—as I stood at a door, wondering whether I'd be welcomed, or rejected...or confronted by an angry dog! 

 

Of course, you might wonder why any of this matters. And my reason for sharing it with you has to do with today's word from Psalm 9, which—in The Message version of the Bible—reads like this:

 

GOD is a safe-house for the battered,

     a sanctuary during bad times.

The moment you arrive, you relax;

     you’re never sorry you knocked. (vs. 9-10)

 

You see, in a certain sense, life is filled with doors, both physical and emotional. And while quite a few open onto opportunity and joy, there are also those that open onto hardship and pain. And yet, no matter what doors stand before us, faith reminds us that there is a door at which we're always welcome—the door of our Heavenly Father, who—in Jesus—walks through every door with us. 

 

So may all your doors today open into joy. But even if they don't, may God's presence with you allow you to relax, so that you're never sorry you knocked. Amen.