The Lord Controls the Doors

I met yesterday with the assistant superintendent of the local school system. I was able to share with her some of my and Patrick’s story, which is chronicled in our new book, OPTIMISM FOR AUTISM. I talked with her about the positive impact made by the caring professionals in the local school system. I voiced my and Patrick’s desire to speak to teachers in order to thank them and to communicate that they can make a tremendous difference in the lives of their students. Patrick serves as a living example of that truth.

Will anything come of that meeting?

Only if the Lord wants something to happen.

Revelation 3:7-8, NIV, says, “What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open. . . See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.”

The Lord opens and closes doors for our own good.

He says “yes” and “no” and for our own good (Deuteronomy 10:13) and so that it might go well with us (Deuteronomy 4:40). He says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” He closes doors because He knows that to go through them would bring us unnecessary pain. He opens doors that bless us and draw us closer to Him. He is eternally wise and exceedingly loving toward His children, and He knows what is best for us.

The Lord opens and closes doors for the good of others.

The Lord closed the door for Paul to preach the gospel in Asia, even though he wanted to go there (Acts 16:6). Instead, the Lord opened the door for Paul to share the truth about Jesus Christ in Macedonia (Acts 16:9-12), and Paul walked through that door. The Lord had prepared the hearts of the Macedonians to hear Paul’s message. The closing and opening of doors was for their benefit.

The Lord opens and closes doors for His kingdom purposes.

The Lord does not want anyone to perish, but for everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). He places great importance on bringing others into the kingdom. Doors open and close toward that purpose. We can’t always see what is happening in this realm, but God does.

Paul was sensitive to the swinging of the doors. He looked for the open doors and humbly moved away from the closed ones. He knew that the Lord was the Doorkeeper (1 Corinthians 16:9, 2 Corinthians 2:12, and Colossians 4:3), and he celebrated with his home church when the Lord “had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles” (Acts 14:27, NIV).

Jesus said, “I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10, NIV). That’s the bigger—the biggest—picture. That’s the picture that endures for all eternity.

Whether the door swings open or closed in our lives, we can rest assured that our loving Father is moving the hinges to benefit us, others, and His kingdom purposes. We all remain blessed because the Lord controls the doors.

Question: How has the Lord opened and closed doors in your life, and what has He accomplished in doing so? Comment at the link below.

Visit Susan’s website: susanjaneking.com

---