Closed door. Can you accept the finality of a closed door? Lost opportunities, relationships, finances, or careers. How long do we rehash the disappointment by asking “why” questions? Perhaps a better question would be “what now”.
Matthew 7:7 NIV
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Regrets at closed opportunities, asking God for the reason. But he knows the future and we don’t. We don’t always trust God’s wisdom when a door closes soon after opening. What does he want me to do? We sit at the door hoping, praying, and asking why.
Cats are a funny breed. They sit behind a closed door when all the other doors are open. Wonder what they think. If someone will come and open the forbidden door. There could be an important reason they’re not allowed into that space. Perhaps the owner is keeping one room clean and out of bounds.
What thoughts do I believe
After my first year of teaching, the Board of Education would not renew my contract. Worry, along with anxiety about the future, swept in like a tidal wave. What now? I wasn’t good enough as a teacher. My plan for a long career in education, which I enjoyed and studied for, was now ruined. If there were other opportunities in our town, I would do it, but none came. I wallowed in my misery of defeat at losing the only opportunity in the education field, so I thought. But God already knew the plans he destined for me. They were higher than my plans, though I wondered why this door closed.
Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
When the principal of the high school informed me why the contract ended at the end of the school year, my defence mechanism went up. What do you mean I can’t control a class of thirty 17-18-year-olds, especially hormonal boys who caused me grief in more ways than one? I had just graduated with my education degree and was ready for the challenge, but they never instructed how to handle this type of misbehaviour. I didn’t realize my discipline skills lacked authority, but my classroom management had proven it to the principal. To defend myself, I recalled the positive reviews during my practice teaching sessions. Wasn’t that enough?
Now what? After a few days of depression and wallowing in my grief, a professional letter confirming what I already had been told arrived in the mail. It became official and final. But there was a positive message also; the principal will provide me a reference if I find another school that would hire me.
My husband consoled me and together we prayed for direction, which made the news easier to accept. We often called on God during our correspondence and dating a few years earlier when we were at a crossroads.
Why the door closes
Why does God close one door? With our human mind, we jump to conclusions and prepare for the worst. Have you ever done that? If we wait long enough and remain in faith, we may receive answers or we may never know. God is all wisdom and knows the good plans he has for us. He promises a future and a hope. Perhaps to open another door, but when fear and anxiety take over about the future, it’s hard to believe. The Bible says that God’s ways are higher than our ways. He wants us to trust him in all circumstances and remain in faith.
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
When something is in black and white, it becomes a final declaration. There’s nothing you can do about it. Will we accept it or do we trust God it’s for our own good? But how could losing your first professional job be for my good? After thinking about the situation and talking with my husband, I accepted my fate.
Instead of crying the blues and wallowing in despair, we need to trust God. The Bible says to praise the Lord in all situations. Count setbacks of closed doors, a learning experience both spiritually and emotionally. The hurt to our pride will bring much fruit later if we continue trusting God and put aside our hurts.
Little did we know God had already put the pieces of our life into motion. The backstory would have to be told in another post, but enough to say, my next teaching job was waiting for me, in my hometown!
How many times have we questioned God about a closed door? Was there a devastating loss of an opportunity in careers, finances, ministry, relationship, or anything significant that made you take notice?
Perhaps we, like a cat, continued to sit at the closed door waiting for an answer that may never come. But God, in all his wisdom, may open another door, but we could miss it while focussing on the closed door.
How about you? What closed door are you facing today?
Pirkko, I needed to read this today. Thank you.
Hi Carol,
I’m so happy you were blessed by this post. God bless your new journey.
A very good personal example accompanied by words of wisdom! Yes, I have had experiences of closed doors several times in my lifetime. Trust in God can never be learned once for the whole life. In every new complex situation, the need for faith and guidance is needed!
Hi Marja,
Thank you for reading and for you insightful comment. Closed doors are a part of life, but we go on trusting God to guide us in his wisdom.