Hope for when a door closes
Hello friend—
There are times when we feel acute disappointment or get lost in “what might have been” thoughts—and all for good reasons that are deeply personal. (We speak from experience.)
The covenant path is straight. Our life path? It’s full of twists, turns, and sometimes even roadblocks. As we stay close to the Lord, He helps us navigate the unexpected, the joyful, the tragic, and all the in-betweens.
President Camille Johnson recently said, “Please take note, I am not saying that letting God prevail and having the companionship of the Spirit will make your path one of ease. We are ascending. It is an uphill climb.”
When a tree falls across our life path, sometimes the answer is to get to work, remove the obstacle, and go forward in the same direction. Other times when the path ahead becomes impossible to navigate, the answer is to pause, listen, and search for another way forward. It won't the one we expected on our carefully planned map of life, but the one that God knew we would need to find.
As women who love God, we know He has a plan for us. The uphill climb is possible because, Sister Johnson reminds us, we can draw “strength and power from our covenant connection with Christ.”
And, we have each other to help along the way. How have friends helped you through times when doors have closed in your life? Let us know here!
Feel Better in 5! Hope for when a door closes
Find peace in the present view. We can be still and let the spirit open our eyes to the beauty that surrounds us. It doesn’t mean we have to stay where we are, or even be happy, but it can help us find unexpected peace and strength during a difficult time in life.
Trust the waiting. When looking at a closed door, there is so much we can't understand, making it impossible to know all that’s orchestrated behind-the-scenes of our lives. But it’s happening all the same. God is in the details—we can ask for more trust in just how much He knows and cares.
Be open to different blessings. When what we hoped for doesn’t happen, or what we waited for doesn’t come, turning our focus to God allows Him to help us through what is. We can release expectations and instead, expect the wonder of what God knows can be.
Find joy in the joy of others. It doesn’t serve us, or God, to stay bitter or resentful. Even when our hearts are heavy, or we are confused about why things have gone an unexpected way, an honest look inside ourselves, and a prayerful heart, can help us cherish and delight in the joys of others.
Don’t get stuck waiting on the doorstep. We might miss the doors that open for us if we get stuck staring at the one that is closed. A closed door in life isn’t the same as the door to personal revelation. Christ will always open when we knock. We can make the effort to know, or remember, how the spirit speaks to us so that when opportunities come, we’re ready to confidently take them.