When a Door Slams Shut

Staring at a door that just slammed shut and wondering what went wrong? In this episode, discover how closed doors in God's economy are rarely punishments; they're often divine redirections toward a path you couldn't see.Have you ever prayed fervently for something and watched the door close right in your face?The job went to someone else. The relationship ended. The plan you carefully built fell apart. A closed door can feel deeply personal, like rejection, like failure, like God Himself is saying you weren't good enough. And in the painful silence that follows, it's easy to spiral into self-doubt, wondering what you did wrong or whether God is even paying attention.In this episode, we explore the story of John Erickson, a writer who dreamed of becoming a serious literary author. Publisher after publisher turned him down. He worked blue-collar jobs just to survive while the dream he had carefully planned kept running into one closed door after another. Eventually, at "rope's end," he borrowed $2,000, started his own tiny publishing company, and began selling stories about a ranch dog named Hank the Cowdog out of the back of his pickup truck at cattle auctions. What began as a last-ditch effort grew into one of the most successful children's book series in the country, selling millions of copies.Through his story and the wisdom of Proverbs 16:9, you'll see that we can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. A closed door is rarely a dead end. It's most often God's way of steering you toward something you couldn't see from where you were standing.BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER:Why a closed door is most often divine protection or redirection, not punishment or rejectionHow the Apostle Paul's closed doors in Acts 16 led to the gospel entering an entire continentA practical way to bring your closed door to God and ask Him to open your eyes to the redirectThe door that slammed shut may be the very thing that pushes you toward something far greater than the plan you started with.Share This Episode:https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/198Need Prayer? Leave me a voicemail:https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/voicemailWant to keep these devotions coming? Please consider supporting this podcast.https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/support/Connect with BartFacebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/dailydevotionsforbusylivesWebsite: https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.comFeeling spiritually drained? Start here. Download your free copy of my eBook Making Time for Jesus here.Mentioned in this episode:Join Our Private Facebook CommunityIf you're looking for a place to connect with other Daily Devotions listeners and pray for each other, I'd love for you to join our private Facebook community group. Come find us at https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/group