Why I Love When God Closes a Door

I have been on this incredible journey this year on experiencing the love of the Father. And just like only He can do He has shown His provision, His intentional love and kindness with many incredible moments of doors that He has swung wide open. And to feel His love and His Fatherly voice saying yes to me is such an amazing feeling. 

Have you had one of those days? The victory moment, the mountain top experience? Oh it just feels like you are walking on air. While I do love those moments, I want to talk about the closed doors. I want to talk about when the Father says, "No" or "Not Yet" or the always so difficult, "It's not time, just wait." I have come to appreciate the closed doors more than the open ones. 

I had been praying for months and months for a certain door to be opened for me. I did my part, I put in the work, I reached out and prepared and planned, and completely put myself out there. After a few months this door was shut, and not just one door shut but five. Five doors shut in my face! It hurt and I felt completely like I failed. Was I wrong in hearing the voice of God telling me to pursue this? Did I do something wrong? Did I knock on the wrong doors? Does God not want this for me?  I thought He was a loving Father, this is a gift, this is a good thing. Why is the answer no?

The painful but beautiful truth is that when God shuts a door, He is showing His ultimate love and protection. When God shuts a door, He is saying essentially, "This isn't my very best for you. I only give what is best." 

For the Lord God is brighter than the brilliance of a sunrise!
    Wrapping himself around me like a shield,
    he is so generous with his gifts of grace and glory.
    Those who walk along his paths with integrity
    will never lack one thing they need, for he provides it all!

​Psalm 84:11 The Passion Translation

When one of my daughters ask for something, it is very easy to say yes. It feels good and it rolls off my tongue. But it takes another level of love to say no. And if I think of my reason behind saying no it is mainly to protect them. No, because they need rest, no, because you can't have ice cream for breakfast, no, to more screen time, no, to going to a certain place. And right now my "No" to them is much easier to say compared to when they are teenagers I am sure, but regardless of the reason behind the No, the no always comes from a place of protection, security and my deepest love. I can see beyond the moment that this isn't the best choice for them. I can see a week from now, a few hours from now, or years from now that this...that me saying, "Yes" to this won't help them. It's hard to say no, I don't like disappointing them but I know it is necessary because my perspective is bigger than what they can understand. 

That's what parents do.
That is what the Father does.
This doesn't take the sting away from the closed door, but if you can just take a breath and see the unseen. To just believe that He works all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28), that He gives good gifts in abundance. (Luke 11) Then you will be able to lean into His love while you wait in the hallway for the next open door. 

Was it a negative pregnancy test? A job you didn't get? A relationship that fell apart? The next season in life that you really wanted to get to? 

If the Father recently shut a door, believe and trust that it wasn't His best, it wasn't His timing, and that this open door wasn't a part of the story He has for you to play. I know..more than likely this makes NO sense right now, but there is so much we cannot see from our view. We are down here looking around, and He is up there looking down. He sees it all. 

And maybe...just maybe you aren't ready for that open door. Ouch I know...but maybe there is more for you to learn before He can open that door. (This is entirely why my doors were shut, all five of them) He is not just about blessing you He is more about making you. And in the making comes breaking. More often than not something must be broken first before it can grow. Think of a seed. It must be broken into the ground to produce life, fruit, or grain. And more often than not we have to be broken first. 

So my dear friend, grow in grace learning to love His sovereign protection over your life. It's a sweet and tender place to grow. 

Much Love, 
​  Heather