Embrace Life’s Closed Doors (let God figure it out!)
This post was inspired by a sermon from preacher Joel Osteen, who says ‘closed doors’ should be as celebrated as the open ones. Because rather trying to figure out everything yourself, know that God has a plan for you, and sometimes He closes doors, in order for you to move on from bad situations, and embrace better things to come.
Have you ever wanted something, not got it – then found out months or years later, that it was a blessing that you never got what you prayed or wished for? That’s the beauty of closed doors.
Joel mentions a woman who is complaining about her day. One is that her alarm doesn’t go off, so she is late for work. Then she finds out that if the alarm had gone off, she would have been hit by a drunk driver on the road that morning.
What if you look at life differently?
- Instead of being disappointed that you were fired from a job – it was because God says you have something better and more important to do.
- Instead of being heartbroken over someone leaving you – it was because God said perhaps that person was not to be trusted. If you had stayed, your heart may have been smashed to pieces.
- Instead of feeling down if someone sends nasty words to you – it was because God wanted you to know that you are kind and sensitive, and you deserve to be around people who are nice!
- Instead of being upset that you had a diet-related illness – it was because God wanted you to take care of the body that God gave you – to nourish it with good food, take gentle exercise and rest.
When one door of happiness closes, another opens. But we often look so long at the closed door, that we do not see the one which has been opened for us. Helen Keller
If the door closes, quit banging on about it. Whatever was behind it, was not meant for you. Consider the fact that maybe the door was closed, because you are worth so much more than what was on the other side. Anon
Never look back, unless you are planning to go that way. Henry David Thoreau
I waited patiently for the Lord, he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit… set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Psalm 40: 1-3
Don’t Run from the Lord (if you’ve made life mistakes)
Heaven Meets Earth is an illustrated journey through the Nicene Creed, the powerful words of declaration and belief ‘We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth’) that have been handed down through histories to bolster faith and teach truths.
This 40-day devotional journey includes a short phrase from the Creed to meditate on, thoughtful reflections, colourful art and a dedicated prayer.
Josh Nadeau is an artist and writer from Canada’s west coast. After completing a doctorate from the ‘school of hard knocks’, he used addictions to cope with life, and finally wanted ‘the big sleep’.
But instead he found a more hopeful way of communing with Jesus, took a Master’s in Theological Studies, and now writes books, teaching others how to turn their lives around.
Running from God don’t count as cardio.
You can always come home, no matter how far you go.
His grace is super, hope in the Uber, He ain’t departing bro.
So pull up (pull up), pull up (pull up), you ain’t got far to go.Faith Child
Many people never talk or pray to God (nor go to church or confession) because they feel they’ve messed up their lives, and are beyond hope.
Whether that’s guilt, heartbreak from a life lived to the values of others, or they’ve done something really wrong – the whole notion of the Christian faith is based on love and forgiveness – that’s the very reason why Jesus died on the cross, to forgive all our sins.
You would not think that, if you listened to the way some people talk about others, professing to be Christian.
If you’ve made huge mistakes and really made a complete hotpot of your life – that is the exact time when it’s best to find God, not run away from Him!
These days people are asked to stay positive and manifest this or that. It’s all too much. Life problems are sometimes enormous, and often the simplest thing to do is to go down on your knees, and surrender. The songwriter Sam Smith had it right, when he wrote ‘everyone prays in the end’.
Acknowledging that in most cases, you can’t fix your own life problems without help from above, is sometimes the very thing you need to do. Try it – and you may be surprised by some surprising serendipities – the very ones you were hoping for, when reading ‘manifesting books!’
Perhaps the most well-known convert from sinner to saint was Blessed Bartolo Longo, who was born in southern Italy. While studying law in Naples, he joined up with ex-priests to oppose the Pope and church, eventually moving from the occult world to become a satanist (promising his soul to a demon).
His family sent a Catholic professor to convince him to see a Dominican priest, and after 3 weeks of talks, he went to confession and became a third-order Dominican himself. He built a shrine in Pompeii, founded orphanages (and a school to give children of criminals a better life).
And it was from his writings that the name ‘Luminous Mysteries’ was given to The Rosary (a prayer used by Catholics using beads). He was beatified as a saint in 1980.
Saint Francis of Assisi (the patron saint of animal welfare, ecology and simple living) was a real party boy! Born in a wealthy family in Italy, he only gave away his possessions and became a saint later on life. It was said that birds would listen to his word, and fish would leap up from the sea, to hear him preach!
St Alban (the town in Hertfordshire is named after him) was a pagan, who was so impressed by a priest that he sheltered, that he converted himself. The first-ever Christian martyr, he was killed for his faith.
There is a story that St Alban’s execution was delayed, as the fast-flowing river that he could not cross dried up, allowing him to escape. When he was eventually beheaded, his head rolled down a hill and a spring immediately created fresh water.
The executioners were so surprised, they began to revere him as a saint, and the well still stands today at Holywell Hill. Who needs reality TV?
What is the Sacrament of Reconciliation (confession?)
This is what Catholics do, they visit their local church during confession times. It’s nothing to be scared of, and you’ll come out feeling a lot better!
You basically wait your turn, then go into a little box. In most cases, you don’t even see the priest. He will be behind a grill or around a corner. You simply tell him (in confidence) anything that ails you, and he will ask you to say a short prayer that is usually written down in front of, along the lines of:
Forgive me Father, for I have sinned. And with the help of your Grace, I will not sin again.
The priest will then bless and forgive you in the name of God, and ask you to say the Lord’s Prayer or the Hail Mary (or both) and perhaps something more. Then when you leave, all your sins are forgiven. How cool and simple is that?!
True Stories of Confession with Padre Pio
Padre Pio was an Italian saint, renowned for performing many miracles, and had the stigmata (blood on his hands, like Christ when crucified). He would spend hours each day in prayer.
Fellow friars said he often appeared in several places at one time, and when not performing miracles, he would often be seen to hear confessions (12 to 15 a day). He said that when people confessed their sins, he would smell flowers!
Carlo Campanini attended confession in 1950, but Padre Pio told him ‘Begin in 1936’. The man replied ‘But I confessed a few days ago’. Padre Pio again said ‘I told you to begin 1936’. Suddenly Carlo remembered that he had done something in 1936, that he had been too ashamed to confess to the priest.
He did so, and later said ‘That confession changed my life, and I haven’t missed Mass since’.
God runs after the most stubborn souls. They cost him too much to abandon them. Do not dwell on sins that have already been confessed. Jesus has forgiven them. Padre Pio
