Closed Doors
Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Acts 16:6-10
Have you ever considered the value of closed doors? Most of us have not. We look at closed doors as an interruption in our plans or as a distraction from our agenda. Yet could it be that closed doors are one of the best gifts God has for us?
By way of evidence, consider the example of the Apostle Paul. On his second missionary journey, Paul had every intention of going to Bithynia, a Roman province in Asia Minor. But God closed the door in no uncertain terms.
I can imagine Paul’s disappointment. After all, he had begun a great work in “Asia” (modern-day Turkey) and he certainly would have wanted to complete his evangelistic tour. But the Lord said, “No.”
While we’re told elsewhere that God gives open doors (see Rev. 3:8) – doors we enthusiastically walk through – it’s clear that equally important are those closed doors.
It might be a closed door regarding a relationship. Or a closed door as it has to do with a job…or a house…or a ministry. Closed doors can be deflating, indeed, disconcerting.
A Sign of God’s Love
Yet, in His sovereignty, God closes doors as a function of His love. Sometimes he closes doors to protect us. On other occasions, He closes doors to direct us.
God closes doors as a function of His love. Sometimes to protect us. Other times to direct us.
This latter reason was behind Paul’s closed door. Though the apostle didn’t know it at the time, the reason for his closed door was that the Lord had prepared an open door that would take him in another direction. That became apparent when Paul had a vision in the night wherein a man from Macedonia begged him to “Come over and help us.”
Paul and his team decided to step through this new open door, crossed over into northern Greece, and soon came to the city of Philippi. There, the apostle met a businesswoman named Lydia with whom he shared the Good News. Lydia embraced it and became the first European convert.
What followed was a series of church plants and thousands of new believers – none of which would have happened if God hadn’t said, “No” to Paul’s original intention.
We initially perceive closed doors negatively, as barriers or roadblocks to our plans. And they can often be quite confusing…especially if we thought that what we were doing was good.
Yet, the fact is, often it’s only in encountering a closed door that we are directed toward an open door…and something that is even better.
PRAYER
Lord, I so needed to be reminded of this. All too often I think my plans are Your plans. Yet many times I’m off base regarding that. So while I continue to celebrate the open doors that are given me, I will no less celebrate the closed doors that are given me.
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