Closed Doors

Feeling like a failure when everyone is moving on and you're not...

Sometimes the answer to our prayers is a closed door. Sometimes the enemy barricades the door. Sometimes God shuts the door Himself. A closed door can be a blessing when you know something better is around the corner and God wants to prepare you as you wait on Him. But when you don't know what lies ahead and you're taken aback by a locked door, it can bring about great disappointment. 

If you've ever been locked out from a room or been told you don't have access to enter a place, you will know what I'm talking about. An incident like that weighs heavy on your heart, especially when you feel rejected and you're unaware that God might be protecting you from what lies ahead. And because we can't see what's on the other side of the doors we knock upon, we may not necessarily see the harm that follows. We may even forget that God is actually redirecting us. I saw a qoute one day, and it sums up perfectly the reason why at times God closes particular doors, "Maybe God wrecks your plans when He sees your plans about to wreck you". Some plans fall apart. That's because those plans aren't God's Will for you. A good plan may not necessarily be God's plan. And instead of propelling you forward, they will actually hold you back, if you pursue them. 

Dear friend God knows your life story, from the beginning to the end. He knows your triumphs, failures and disappointments. He knows when a task will be fruitful and flow, and when it will be forced and end in shambles. He knows it all!

When your vision is blurred by disappointment, I want you to remember these scriptures:

●Proverbs 19:21 - "Many plans are in a man's mind, but it is the Lord's purpose for him that will stand". 

 ●Proverbs 16:9 - A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure.

●Proverbs 16:33 - The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly of the Lord [even the events that seem accidental are really ordered by Him].

●Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future". 

In Revelation 3:7-8 it states that God is in charge of the doors that open and close in our lives. He holds the keys. I've chosen to take a closer look at that one scripture for it demonstrates that the Bible does indeed speak about doors. In this chapter doors represent God-given opportunities. And we may forget that not all doors operate the same way. They don't all have the same time frame (window of opportunity), which control when they will open. 

Let me tell you a  thing or two about doors... 

Whatever door is standing before you, I want you to hear me when I say this, doors don't always announce themselves as doors. They don't necessarily look like doors and sometimes they require a process (a time of learning and refining) before you can enter. They also don't always grant every individual the same access.

■Some doors are locked, not closed. Thus, it's not God's will for you to pursue and He purposely disrupts our plans with plans of His own. This disruption isn't by mistake but simply means He has something else for you. 

■Some doors are revealed with resistance. 

■Some doors require keys in order to be opened.

■Some doors require a push and nudge.

■Some doors require that you slide them to the side (think of sliding doors). 

■Some doors require that you be in close proximity prior to you being granted access to enter.

■Some doors require that we have our house in order, before blessings are poured out.

■Some doors are great and therefore, they have greater resistance. 

■Some doors are small and have little resistance, so you receive instant access. 

 ■Some doors are closed because God wants our undivided attention and He wants alone time with us. So we can align all the pieces of our lives and we can be in position for that 'door' (that job or relationship) He wants us to knock upon and enter. 

If you don't try, you'll never know...what's on the other side. You'll keep wondering, "What if...". You have to pursue the dream or calling God put in you. Matthew 7:7-8 offers some great advice. "Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened.". In summary you must follow these steps: Ask (make your petitions known to God), Seek (put Him first and pursue Him, His kingdom and righteousness) and Knock (keep praying, believing and expecting). With that said, rest assured lovelies. Let Isaiah 58:11 encourage you for it says that, "The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail". He will keep you! 

Stay encouraged. 

- Mel