Backdoor Mercies

Joyful are those you discipline, LORD, those you teach with your instructions.

Psalm 94:12

Have you ever gone through a difficult season—whether through God’s discipline or because of heartache—only to be surprised by the amount of growth and blessing you gained through perseverance? During the struggle, we often feel miserable and can’t wait for the circumstances to ease. In our minds, nothing good seems to be happening.

You’ve heard the saying that when God closes a door, He opens a window. Hard times seem to drive us through a door that slams shut behind us, and sometimes we feel like turning around and banging on it, begging to be allowed back in. We believe we’d be safer in a place that was at least familiar.

I’ve been surprised in my own life to discover how good comes in those tough times. It’s because God specializes in “backdoor mercies” that are on the other side of the door we’re being pushed through. In most cases, they are hidden blessings that see us through and help us grow, only to be discovered later.

As I’ve shared already, the struggles during my early years of marriage not only drove me to question if I had made a mistake, but they drove me to my knees and to God when I needed Him most.

When I said my wedding vows, I didn’t realize I was entering a lifetime training program to spotlight my selfishness. I felt as if I’d been pushed out a door into a world of heartache and frustration. But because of God’s growth in me, I can now look back and say that I would not trade those years for anything. Through them He revealed my need for Him and my powerlessness to change myself. I learned that I needed the Lord’s help, not just in marriage but in every area of my life.

Let’s thank the Lord today that Christian living is not trouble-free; rather, it’s a daily opportunity to experience Christ’s mercies in changing us to be more like Him. Right now, think of one specific way God has changed you in the last few years. Be encouraged.