Thoughts: Hannah's Blog

Many a time we have to face closed doors in life. A closed job opportunity or a closed marriage proposal. When we walk in the hallway of life’s circumstance – looking to the left or to the right, hoping for a glimpse of a door when there are none in sight. And finally when we do find one and it seems to be slightly open only to have it closed as we go near. Oh the disappointment while staring at the door, hoping it would open! Later realisation sets in and we walk on… at times turning back to look at that closed door in regret, wondering why it wouldn’t open.

For when the door was slightly ajar, all I could see was the bend in the road, God could see the end and so gently closes that door in love. If only we would believe that it was for our good that our loving God said No, it would save us a lot of heartache and regret and all those negative thoughts starting with “If only…” and “What if…”.

I once read a testimony of someone in US who was looking for a house to buy and settle. She found one, it was like the house of her dreams. It had everything that she desired in a house: the locality, the space around the house, the house itself – the way it was designed: everything was to her liking. But some obstacles kept coming her way and she could not buy the house, she felt God saying No and she moved on to a different city, found a different house – didn’t match her dream house but she was ok with it and they settled there. 2 years later, she learned that due to an earthquake, the old dream house that she had wanted to purchase earlier – was totally damaged! She realised that God had saved her by closing doors.

Why travel as far as the US, I have a testimony of a sister I know. Her parents were looking out for proposals for her marriage and they found a guy they liked. He was from the same church, the pastor knew their family well, the guy spoke kindly and it seemed like a good proposal but that sis said No causing regret and heart break to the family. The guy moved on and married some one else. It was almost 2 years later the parents learned that the guy had taken up drinking heavily and not going to work regularly causing a rift in his married life.

There is a saying that goes: If God says No, it means he has something better planned for you. I’d like to rephrase it saying, If God says No, it means He is saving you from something bad that might happen to you. In His foreknowledge and infinite wisdom, he lays out a way for us – for every day of our lives are written in His book and He cares so much for us that at times he stops us from walking down the roads that are not good for us. In our limited knowledge, it might seem like a good choice to us but it might turn out otherwise in the end.

So in case you are facing some closed doors right now and feeling disappointed, I’d like to encourage you with the truth that God’s got this. He knows what He is doing and why He is doing. Let us learn to trust in His goodness and His goodwill and walk in obedience. You will hear a voice behind you saying “This is the way; walk in it”. Till then, let us thank God for all the closed doors and while in this hallway, let us learn to praise Him for who He is.