We need to learn to praise the Lord as much for a closed door as we do for an open door. The reason God closes doors is because He has not prepared anything over there for us. If He didn't close the wrong door, we would never find the right door. God directs our path through the closing and opening of doors. One door closes, it forces you to change your course. Another door closes, it forces you to change your course again.
Then finally, you find the open door and walk right into your blessing! The Lord directs our paths through the opening and closing of doors, but instead of praising Him for the closed door (which keeps us out of trouble), we get upset because we "judge by appearances".
You have an ever-present help in the time of need who is always standing guard. Because He walks ahead of you, He can spot trouble down the road and set up a road block or detour accordingly. But through our lack of wisdom, we try to tear down the road blocks or push aside the detour sign. Then the minute we get into trouble we start crying, "Lord! How could you have done this to me?". We have got to realize that the closed door can be a blessing. Didn't He say that "no good thing will He withhold from them that love Him?".
If you get terminated from your job - praise God for the new opportunities that will manifest themselves - it might be another job, it might be school. If that man or woman won't return your call - it might not be them, it might be the Lord setting up a roadblock. Just let it go.
One time a person had a bank they had been in business with for many years to tell them "no" to a $10,000 bank loan. The Lord put in their spirit to call another bank. That bank gave them $40,000 at a lower interest rate than the first bank was offering! We can sometimes trap ourselves in doubt and discouragement through judging by appearances. I'm so grateful, my friends, for the many times our Heavenly Father has closed doors to me just to open them in the most unexpected places.
The Lord won't always say in spoken words, "Go to the left, now to the right..." Sometimes, He will just close the wrong doors. "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path" - Psalm 119:105. "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and He delights in his way" Psalm 37:23. The mountain top is glorious but it is in the valley that I will grow!
"For the Lord is good, His mercy is everlasting and His truth endureth to all generations" - Psalm 100:5
God gives you
Enough happiness to keep you sweet
Enough trials to keep you strong
Enough sorrows to keep you human
Enough hope to keep you happy
Enough failure to keep you humble
Enough success to keep you eager
Enough friends to give you comfort
Enough wealth to meet your needs
Enough enthusiasm to look forward
Enough faith to banish depression
AND
Enough determination to make each day a better day than yesterday!
So - go and enjoy this wonderful day that the Lord has made!
Submitted by Sis. Dana Garland