Encouragement for When You Face a Closed Door

Have you ever faced a closed door?

• Perhaps you apply for a new position at work. You have all the right credentials and long for a new challenge, but the boss bypasses you and chooses someone else. The door to the new opportunity closes.
• Maybe you feel led to write a book. You attend writers conferences to hone your skill. You network with editors. You even find an agent willing to represent you. Your book proposal is submitted to the publishing house you really want to work with but, sadly, it’s rejected. The door to working with that publisher closes.
• Your family has grown and you need a larger house. You find one that seems perfectly suited for your needs but before you can take action, someone else makes an offer and it’s accepted. The door to buying that house closes.

Closed doors often spell disappointment or frustration

I’ve experienced it in regards to my writing pursuits many times. I’ve also experienced it in regards to potential speaking opportunities—an event planner contacts me, asks about my topics and availability, and then chooses a different speaker. The door to that opportunity closes. Ouch.

Closed doors are under God’s control

One thing I’ve learned, however, is to change my perspective about closed doors. Rather than dwell on the disappointment, I now thank God that He’s in control. He uses closed doors to steer me the right direction. And when He wants a door to open, then nothing hinders that from happening. There’s huge peace in trusting His sovereignty.

Joshua 6 tells the amazing story of Jericho. Verses 1 and 2 say,

“Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in.  But the LORD said to Joshua, ‘I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors.’” (Joshua 6: 1-2)

God is bigger than closed doors

These verses bring me a lot of encouragement. They remind me that, yes, I’ll face closed doors. But God is bigger. If He wants to bring a new opportunity into my life, then He’ll ensure that happens in the right time and in His way. He’s also wiser than me. He knows what’s behind that closed door and whether or not it would do me more harm than good. There’s a reason it’s closed. I only need to trust and obey (and be willing to wait patiently).

I hope this insight encourages you today. Remember—closed doors might seem like a sad end to our hopes and dreams, but they’re nothin’ for God! If He wants them to open, they’ll open.