A Closed Door...

...is something to be thankful for as much as an Open door.

Listening to Joel Osteen talk about closed doors - he said:

"Don't fight your closed doors."

It is so true  - when you think about it, you're not really trusting God if you want things to only happen your way... When you trust God, you'll know that He alone knows the plans He has for you and that His plans for you are for your own good.* The other part to that is sometimes we miss God's best for us by staring/staying at or even struggling with the closed door(s) and ignore or totally miss the open door. "When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us. Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open."**

I believe that is why God put these 2 verses in the Bible:
Isaiah 22:22 - I will give him the key to the house of David—the highest position in the royal court. When he opens doors, no one will be able to close them; when he closes doors, no one will be able to open them. (NLT)
Rev 3:7b - “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. (NLT)

God needs us to realize that open and closed doors are part of His plan for us...all we need is to be able to distinguish between the doors He has opened or closed for us. God closes some doors so we are not distracted from going through open doors that lead us to our God-ordained destination. Another (related) verse that appears at least twice in the Bible is in Proverbs and it warns: "What you think is the right road may lead to death."***

I remember staring and almost struggling with a closing/closed door a few years ago. I couldn't imagine what it would be like stepping through an open door into the unknown. God in His mercy kept my eyes on Him and following Him step by step He lead me to a wonderful "new"  - one I could never have orchestrated myself. Like I tweeted earlier today: "Lord, thank You for the beginning of a new season in my life. I will seize every opportunity and thank You without ceasing in all seasons."

Reference:
*Jer 29:11 - 12 - I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope. When you call me and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. (Common English Bible)
**Alexander Graham Bell
***Prov 14:12 and Prov 16:25