God Leads With Closed Doors

        I believe that God has a path for our lives which is perfect. Often we struggle against that path, and end up living our lives along a trajectory that is less that perfect. But if we are seeking God’s leadership and direction in our lives, He will not disappoint us.

        However, sometimes God has to lead us by closing doors we wish were open. I may deeply desire to have a particular job or a particular experience, and no matter how hard I try, the door just seems to be closed. We should be thankful for the things we don’t get. I once applied for a teaching job in a university. I was well-qualified for the position, was encouraged to apply, and was led to believe that I had a good chance to get the position. When I contacted the department, I found that I didn’t even make the short-list. I was disappointed, discouraged and confused. I was sure that I was on the right track, and that the job would have been perfect for me. In retrospect I am glad I didn’t get that position; that department went through a period of turmoil and within a year, most of the faculty left that department because of an administrative problem. A few months after my application was rejected, another position became available, and it turned out to be a great experience for me.

        I believe that God closes doors as certainly as He opens them. God spares us misery and difficulty when doors close. In our limited perspective, we may be certain that we just have to have that position, or we just have to marry that person, or we just have to have that possession, But we don’t see the bigger picture. If we are truly seeking God’s guidance in our lives, He will not really disappoint. He may not give us what we want, but in the long run, we will be rewarded and he will give us "the desires of our heart."