“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:20

I am pretty mindless about doors, most of the time. I walk through them all day, it seems, going from one room to another, not even thinking. In reality, every time we approach a door, we are inviting our view to change. Some doors lead us outside to experience the fresh fragrance of newly mown summer grass, or the chill of huge snowflakes floating from the sky. Other doors lead us into our own home, where we find relief and rest after a long journey, or the warm fellowship of a friend inviting us in to their home.

Doors can be beautifully adorned or simple slabs of wood with a knob; it really doesn’t matter. Each serves the same purpose, requiring the same response. Open and enter or turn back and leave. Sometimes we stumble through a door without even thinking, but in reality each time we have the option of making that conscious choice.

Sometimes, however, doors close and we are left wondering why. I struggle with closing doors on my own, and when they are slammed in my face I mourn the loss. I question God about my purpose in life, my identity, and my value.  When our identity is wrapped up in our roles in life, it can become a life-altering crisis. Did I do something wrong? Was I not following God’s will? Did I give people the wrong impression? Did I make the wrong choice? How did I fail? The feelings of discouragement and the pain of rejection attack our self-worth. It is a difficult and painful when we view the shutting of doors as unjust or without explanation.

I’ve come to realize that there can be a bigger purpose in closed doors. There are many instances in the Bible where God closed doors for the good of His people. He closed the door on Noah’s ark to save his people from the flood. He allowed Joseph to endure years of suffering from the pit where his brothers threw him, to years in prison prior to being raised up as a leader who saved his family and an entire nation during a famine. He closed the door to the inn for Mary and Joseph, but His son entered the world in a quiet and lowly stable which displayed His humanity and Deity. He allowed the heavy stone of Christ’s tomb to be rolled into the entrance so Jesus could be resurrected in a way that no one can disprove.

.The invitation in this verse is not only for unbelievers. Think about this: Why do we invite someone to share a meal with us? Fellowship – we want to get to know them better or strengthen an existing relationship. A closed door to some things in this life can lead us to open the door to intimacy with Christ. He ministers to our heart as the source of our hope when we are discouraged, when we see ourselves as failures. We must trust that He knows our pain, sees our purpose, and plans our future.

We can see the closing of doors as a season of God’s good redirection instead of harsh rejection or punishment. We may never know why, but God knows, and He is a GOOD God who loves us and has a wisdom we can’t even begin to fathom. Let’s praise Him for that and trust His good purpose in our lives.

Dear Lord, help me to see the closing of a door as a season of your good redirection instead of harsh rejection. Even if I never know why, I can trust that you are a loving God whose wisdom is beyond my understanding. Help me draw near to you when I am discouraged by a closed door and praise you for your good purpose in my life.