06 Mar When God Closes Doors
by Tianette van Staden
About a year ago, I audibly heard doors closing in my house—not in a creepy way, but in a way that gave me peace. I wondered what it meant. Now, looking back, I realize that 2024, which aligns with the Hebrew year 5784—the year of the open door—has actually been a year of closed doors for me. I didn’t piece it together at first, but as the months passed, doors continued to shut in my life: opportunities I had prayed for, dreams I had confidently believed in, and desires I thought were within reach.
When Doors Close Without Explanation
One example stands out clearly. Most of my family lives about three hours away, and I considered moving closer by renting a house next to my dad. That house had been empty for four years, and my dad had never agreed to rent it out. Yet, as soon as I seriously started contemplating the move, new renters moved in. Just like that, the door closed.
This happened repeatedly—things I prayed about, believed for, and expected to unfold were suddenly shut off from me. With every closed door, I felt more overwhelmed, and honestly, I struggled with disappointment.
Then, one evening as I was driving home, it hit me. I had said months before, “I don’t know how to deal with disappointment.” My whole life, I had struggled with handling setbacks. And suddenly, I realized that maybe this was my lesson to learn. Even when things don’t go as I planned, God is still in control. He is still working everything out for His glory.
Seasons of Refinement and Trust
I don’t see any new doors opening yet, but I remind myself of Job. Doors close for a reason, and even when I don’t understand why, I trust that bigger and better things are ahead. Maybe this is a season of testing or refinement. My relationship with God is deepening in ways I never imagined. I see now that when you ask God to grow you in a certain area, He gives you opportunities to develop in that area.
For instance, when I asked God to help me love others more, He sent difficult people into my life so I could learn to love beyond what was comfortable. Now, I am asking to be God’s friend, like Abraham was (James 2:23). And how can you be someone’s friend without opening up to them? This season has pushed me to be brutally honest with God, something I wasn’t always comfortable doing before.
Biblical Encouragement: The Stories of Joseph and Job
Joseph’s story in Genesis is a reminder that sometimes painful detours are part of God’s plan. If Joseph had not been thrown into the pit and falsely accused, he would never have become the ruler of Egypt. Job lost everything—his wealth, his health, even his family—yet God restored him in the end. I am incredibly blessed to still have my support system. When I look at these examples, I find peace knowing that even when I don’t understand, God’s plans are always good (Proverbs 3:5-6).
How I’m Learning to Handle Disappointment
I won’t lie, I didn’t handle disappointment well at first. But I’m learning. Just like training in anything, you don’t become strong overnight; you need repeated experience to build endurance.
For me, coping has looked like:
- Prayer – Constantly talking to God, even silently in my head.
- Worship – Focusing on who God is, rather than on what I feel I lack.
- Scripture – Reminding myself of God’s promises, like Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
God’s Small Confirmations
Looking back, I now see that God was preparing me. The fact that I physically heard doors close was symbolic of what was coming. The urgency I felt to learn about our identity in Christ was another sign. God was grounding me in truth before this season of closed doors. One verse that stood out to me in this time was Daniel 3:18: “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods.” This verse, spoken by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego before they were thrown into the fire, reminds me that even if things don’t turn out the way I want, God is still good. I didn’t recognize all of this right away, but I see now that He was giving me hints all along. Now, I ask God to help me recognize His guidance earlier so I can walk in peace, even when doors close.
Drawing Closer to God Through It All
This season has brought me closer to God in ways I never imagined. I never thought I would cry in His presence the way I have. But let me tell you—God is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). He is there when you weep, when you feel lost, and when your dreams shatter. And He is still good.
Final Encouragement
When life doesn’t go as planned, we have two choices:
Pull away from God in frustration.
Draw closer to Him and surrender our pain.
Being a Christian doesn’t mean life will always be easy or that you won’t feel sadness or disappointment. But I want to encourage you—you are not alone. When doors close, God is still there, guiding, refining, and preparing you for what’s next. Trust Him, even in the silence.
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Tianette is a child of God. Through sharing her personal experiences and lessons learned, she hopes to encourage others in their walk with God. She desires to bring people closer to Him, not through perfection but through her real and honest journey. Her blog is called Hope and Healing and you can also find her on Facebook.
From time to time, Cup of Faith receives guest posts from people who would prefer to contribute to the blog once-off. These authors may choose to stay anonymous or may have their name featured in the post itself.
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