What an Old Door Taught Me About Sanctification

A real-time parable

Waves 8 · Digital Art by Samara Silva (2025)

This week I had one of those ordinary, slightly tedious jobs to do: removing an old door sweep that had become brittle and no longer worked.

At first, I tried replacing only the rubber strip that had come loose. The new one didn’t fit.

So I decided to remove the whole thing. I started from the side that was already lifting, assuming the rest would come off easily.

It didn’t. Instead, part of it snapped off, leaving the rest firmly attached.

I grabbed the first tool I could find. No success.

Then I had the idea to apply a little solvent first, hoping it would soften the old adhesive. While it sat, I went looking for something better and found a small wood chisel. It wasn’t ideal, but it seemed like it would work.

I remember thinking, This is going to take forever.

And, if I’m honest, I was still hoping there would be a quicker, easier way.

The moment I began, I sensed the Holy Spirit impressing these words on my heart:

“I’m doing a work of patience in you.”

Immediately, everything changed.

I understood.

I agreed.

And peace replaced my impatience.

However long this takes, let’s simply finish it—calmly.

Then another thought came:

“If you try to force it, you’ll only hurt yourself, and the work may never be completed.”

As I continued, the entire task began to feel like a living parable.

The chisel reminded me of the Word of God, “living and active... dividing soul and spirit” (Hebrews 4:12).

The hardened adhesive reminded me of the false beliefs the world so easily sticks to us.

The solvent reminded me of Christ, who cleanses us and loosens what once seemed impossible to remove.

Little by little, the old piece came away.

Once it was gone, I used the chisel to scrape away the remaining dried glue before finishing with the solvent until the surface was clean.

The door looked almost new. Ready to receive what belonged there now.

The next day, a sister in Christ shared a dream with me.

Interestingly, it carried almost the same imagery: something stuck to her—something tangled around her—being removed. She described overcoming it with a strength that wasn’t merely her own, but one God supplied.

I smiled.

God has a beautiful way of confirming what He is already speaking.

Sometimes through Scripture, sometimes through another believer. And sometimes... through the simple task of repairing a door.

Perhaps this reflection is for you, too.

Maybe there is still something from the old nature that God is gently removing. Maybe the process feels slower than you hoped.

If so, don’t mistake the slowness for silence. He is still working.

And He always finishes what He begins.

“...He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 1:6

Shalom and Love of Christ,
Samara

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