I don't know about you, but this has always been such a hard concept for me to just understand. I believe wholeheartedly that Christ has the best plans for me and that when He shuts a door, whether it's for a friendship, relationship, job, etc. that it's for a reason.

I like to stand in the middle of the doorway, which makes it only harder on myself. In junior college, months before I ever met my very first boyfriend and now husband, I thought I was so in love with this boy. I didn't actually think I was in love, but I really thought that maybe there was something there and that it'd work out for me. After a few weeks of uncertainty I prayed hard that God would take care of the situation and guard my heart. I clearly felt Him saying to get out of the doorway, that He couldn't possibly open or close a door that I was standing in between. And since that day I haven't been able to forget that.

My last year of college was one full of excitement, but I also faced many moments of disappointment in both myself and others. Unfortunately, I lost not only one friend, but multiple whom I thought would be lifelong friendships. Girls who I thought would celebrate my engagement with me. Girls who were supposed to be at my wedding and take plenty of pictures with me. Girls who would support me during my summer apart from my new husband while we both worked apart.

These were doors that I struggled to understand why they were shut. But doors that I finally believe Christ shut to protect me, although I tried to pry them open by keeping my foot in the door. Now, almost a year later I am understanding that though I will never regret these friendships that there is a reasoning behind the closed doors. I don't have to understand and I honestly will never.

I want you reading this to understand that a closed door may not always be easy. It may not seem fair. You may be just like me and want to apologize, forgive, try to forget, and move on- but they may choose not to. In those moments of complete devastation please trust in Him. Rest in Christ and allow Him to be your source of comfort. You may not feel an immediate sense of relief. There will be days where you find yourself in complete distraught. There will be days you will crave that friendship or that missed opportunity. Lean on those who love you most in those times.

I know that when God shuts a door, that it is for a greater purpose than my understanding. You may be at fault and you may not, but sometimes it is completely out of our own control.

Trust in Him. And when God shuts a door, don't try to open it back up.