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Doors open and doors close all the time. What can you and I do when facing these doors? Here is how to survive all of the open and closed doors in life. Doors open and doors close all the time. What can you and I do when facing these doors? Here is how to survive all of the open and closed doors in life. Discover quotes, Bible verse, and practical ideas that will you to navigate through life's open and closed doors--especially the closed ones! #doors #closeddoors #opendoors #liveinlightbook


I couldn’t believe it!

For months, I talked with this ministry about becoming their director. We’d been through countless interviews, meetings, and phone conversations.

I’d filled out form after form after form.

The questionnaires were endless.

But, in the end, the door to step into this particular position closed. Tightly. Without warning.

I would not be walking through this door.

Doors open and doors close all the time. What can you and I do when facing these doors? Here is how to survive all of the open and closed doors in life. Doors open and doors close all the time. What can you and I do when facing these doors? Here is how to survive all of the open and closed doors in life. Discover quotes, Bible verse, and practical ideas that will you to navigate through life's open and closed doors--especially the closed ones! #doors #closeddoors #opendoors #liveinlightbook

How to Survive All of the Open and Closed Doors in life

Closed doors can be painful, jarring, and completely unexpected.

We think we are headed in one direction, and then abruptly the door slams shut.

In addition, we get our emotions all set on going down a particular path. Energy begins to build, ideas start forming, and our hearts began to wrap themselves around the thought of moving towards this new entrance.

Then. The. Door. Closes.

And, we must stop, adjust our focus, and take a minute to catch our breath.

When I found myself standing in the hallway–outside the closed door of ministry–I had to decide how to respond.

In those quiet moments after the door had closed, I began to pray over all that I was feeling and dealing with. As I prayed, God gave me some sweet insights into closed and open doors.

I’m praying that these insights might encourage you as you encounter all of the doors that will open and close in your life.

I'm praying that these insights might encourage you as you encounter all of the doors that will open and close in your life. Click To Tweet

Here are 3 suggestions for how to survive all of the open and closed doors in life:

First, when the door closes, take time to pray.

Indeed, you may be very hurt or angry when that door slams shut. Tell God how you feel. Talk things over with Him. He can take it.

Psalm 62:8 reminds us, “O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.”

Sometimes, praying aloud to the Lord can help.

Other times, journaling our prayers can give us great relief.

To pray is to take the difficulties of our lives and hand them over to the only One who can really do anything about things.

Moreover, to give our pain to God is to invite Him to create and work something good out of it all.

To pray is to take the difficulties of our lives and hand them over to the only One who can really do anything about our lives. Click To Tweet

Doors open and doors close all the time. What can you and I do when facing these doors? Here is how to survive all of the open and closed doors in life. Doors open and doors close all the time. What can you and I do when facing these doors? Here is how to survive all of the open and closed doors in life. Discover quotes, Bible verse, and practical ideas that will you to navigate through life's open and closed doors--especially the closed ones! #doors #closeddoors #opendoors #liveinlightbook

Second, when the door closes, take some time to grieve your loss.

When we rush off to the next thing, we don’t allow ourselves time to really work through all that has to take place.

For me, I felt betrayed, misled, and completely mistreated. I had been led to believe that I would be walking through the door of leadership in this particular ministry.

However, when it did not happen, I was taken aback.

Truly, I needed to take some time to allow my emotions to catch up with all of the events that had taken place.

You will too!

None of us can process everything immediately.

We all need time to absorb the blows of life.

So, take a few days to ponder all that has transpired before rushing off to the next thing.

Consider what Mary, the mother of Jesus, did when she found out she was going to give birth: “But Mary treasured all these things, giving careful thought to them and pondering them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)

When doors close, it would benefit us greatly if we would take time to give careful thought to all that has taken place.

None of us can process everything immediately. We all need time to absorb the blows of life. So, take a few days to ponder all that has transpired before rushing off to the next thing. Click To Tweet

Finally, when a door closes, watch for God to open a different door.

It’s an old adage that we’ve grown up hearing, “When God closes a door, He will open a window.”

We’ve all heard it since we were children.

And, yet, it is true!

We serve a God who can open the doors that no person can close.  Additionally, our God can close the doors that no person can open.

In Revelation 3:8, God told the Church at Philidelphia, “See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.”

God is able to open doors that no one will be able to close.

He is a door-opening God.

We serve a Door-Opening God!

God is able to open doors that no one will be able to close. He is a door-opening God. Click To Tweet

Doors open and doors close all the time. What can you and I do when facing these doors? Here is how to survive all of the open and closed doors in life. Doors open and doors close all the time. What can you and I do when facing these doors? Here is how to survive all of the open and closed doors in life. Discover quotes, Bible verse, and practical ideas that will you to navigate through life's open and closed doors--especially the closed ones! #doors #closeddoors #opendoors #liveinlightbook

An Example of God Opening Doors

Believe it or not, exactly 6 days after the ministry door closed for me, God opened another door.

It was totally unexpected and still hard for me to believe.

Indeed, I was still processing the closed ministry door by praying, pondering, and trusting God to do what He wanted to do next.

My newly opened door came in the form of an email.

At first, I thought it was just another spammy email or a bogus request. (I get many, many of these as a blogger.)

But, this email was legit. And, it led to a phone conversation and then a Skype conversation. In time, it led to me signing a contract to write a book with a publisher.

This particular publisher was looking for someone to write a devotional book for teenage girls. They’d been following my Instagram account–unbeknownst to me–and now they were offering me the chance to author this book.

I was blown away and completely surprised by the whole thing! (And, I still am!)

Incidentally, after 6 months of planning, writing, praying, and editing, the book is being pre-released TODAY!

It’s called Live in Light: 5-Minute Devotions for Teen Girls.

You can find out more and pre-order your copy today!

Click LIVE IN LIGHT to get more info.

Live In Light is every girl's guide to tackling their teenage years with the wisdom and comfort of the Bible. From navigating the pressure to be "perfect" on social media to dating and dealing with frenemies, these 5-minute devotionals help you to become the woman that both you and God want you to be. #teengirls #teendevotions #liveinlight #lighttheway


One More Thing

If you find yourself standing outside a closed door today, don’t despair.

Your God is able to open an amazing new door for you as well.

Why not begin to ask Him to open a new door for you?

Why not invite God to do something new in your life?

For you see, closed doors are not final. They are not the end. They are just places where we have to make a turn and go a new way.

I’m praying that God will give you courage and hope as you turn and go a new way.

“For I am about to do something new.

See, I have already begun!

Do you not see it?

I will make a pathway through the wilderness.

I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”

Isaiah 43:19

For you see, closed doors are not final. They are not the end. They are just places where we have to make a turn and go a new way. Click To Tweet.



Want more Encouragement?

WHAT CAN YOU DO WHEN GOD FEELS REALLY DISTANT?

10 SCRIPTURES TO HELP YOU TO FILL UP

 



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This blog occasionally uses affiliate links and may contain affiliate links. Additionally, Melanie Redd is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Also, for more on my disclosure policy, click HERE.

© Melanie Redd and Ministry of Hope, 2019. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner are strictly prohibited. Further, excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Melanie Redd and Ministry of Hope with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Doors open and doors close all the time. What can you and I do when facing these doors? Here is how to survive all of the open and closed doors in life. Doors open and doors close all the time. What can you and I do when facing these doors? Here is how to survive all of the open and closed doors in life. Discover quotes, Bible verse, and practical ideas that will you to navigate through life's open and closed doors--especially the closed ones! #doors #closeddoors #opendoors #liveinlightbook


helloredds@gmail.com

Best-Selling Author | Speaker | Blogger| Podcaster | When the world is falling apart, we can ALWAYS trust in God’s goodness!

8 Comments

Gretchen Fleming · 03/14/2019 at 6:04 PM

Although this was a painful chapter, it is a beautiful story! Thank you for sharing this and yourself with us. Something I am sure we all can relate with and hearing your experience actually shares your comfort with us. We get to rejoice over your open door and our upcoming open door as God chooses. ??

    helloredds@gmail.com · 03/17/2019 at 7:09 AM

    Hey Gretchen,
    Thanks for your kind words and encouragement!
    And, I do pray that God will use the things I’ve been through and learned to encourage others.
    Sure am blessed by you~
    Melanie

Dawn M. Klinge · 02/27/2019 at 10:21 AM

Your story encourages me. I’m so excited about the release of this book and I love the advice you gave here. It’s important that we take the time to grieve when some doors close. I like that you made a point of saying that.

    helloredds@gmail.com · 02/27/2019 at 12:44 PM

    Thank you, Dawn!
    You bless me.
    And, I really am so grateful for your friendship!

Deb Wolf · 02/24/2019 at 3:40 PM

Great advice, Melanie! Thank you!!

Jeannette · 02/24/2019 at 12:49 PM

I, personally, am glad you did not get the first job because I (and lots of others) would have missed out on a great blog today! Thank you!

    helloredds@gmail.com · 02/24/2019 at 3:51 PM

    Thank you, Jeannette!
    Sure do appreciate you and your encouragement!
    May God open many new doors for you~
    Melanie

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