We’ve all heard the saying “When God closes one door, He opens another.” But why is it that we keep banging on that door, hoping that God will change His mind? We cry, plead and bargain with God, hoping that whatever we’re doing is enough to get Him to change His mind or, even better, our circumstances. We think that whatever is behind that door is what we want.
One of the most liberating truths I’ve discovered after making this mistake a thousand times is that shutting that door was God’s way of protecting me from something that was less than His best. Sometimes, this harsh reality isn't comforting, but God is faithfulm and is not moved by our circumstances like we are.
In Isaiah 55:8, the Lord says “For My ways are not your ways, and My thoughts are above your thoughts."
Sometimes, I think we forget that we are only human. And we as humans are beautiful because God created us to be so, but we are also susceptible to failure, mistakes, and heartbreak. And the truth is that failure, mistakes, and heartbreaks are what strengthen our dependency on the One who is sovereign. God has seen our trials and problems before we do, and in addition to that, He sees our time here on Earth in full HD, whereas we only see it in part. We try to limit the Almighty and His ways by forcing His ways to fit our timing and understanding, but Jesus says in John 13:7 that "What I am doing now, you will not understand, but later you will.”
If you are anything like me, not understanding something only makes matters more confusing when God decides to close a door that you were so certain you were meant to walk through. Why did God open the door in the first place if His plan was to eventually close it?
There’s no clear-cut method to explain God’s way, because, like Isaiah 55:8 says, "His ways are not like ours." But I believe that sometimes, God shows us a glimpse of what we want to teach us a lesson that we might not understand immediately, or to simply test our faith. Having faith in Him doesn’t guarantee answers; instead, it promises that whatever He was protecting us from when he unexpectedly slammed that door was kept from us for our own good. Having faith in God includes trusting Him, even when everything you thought you knew has changed.
I know that, in the midst of your circumstances, it’s hard to view the closed door as a blessing. It just feels like divine rejection. But one thing I can promise you is this: God is not rejecting you, he's just redirecting you to a greater door. So, in the midst of your confusion and doubt, hold onto the belief that whatever was behind that door was not for you, but something even better is in store for you, “being fully confident that whatever God has promised you will come to pass.” (Romans 4:21)
God is good, and He is faithful. We should never let closed doors or our circumstances lead us to doubt the goodness and character of God. We might not fully understand our situation, but rest assured that God does, and He’s got everything under control.
"'In the same way, I will not cause pain without allowing something new to be born,' says the Lord.” (Isaiah 66:9)
