Hello, dear one.

I've been thinking about closed doors, lately.

Not the kind we choose to close ourselves. The ones we were quite certain were supposed to stay open, but then there they are… closed.

Maybe a plan we thought would work out, a relationship we thought would look different, a or maybe a season we weren't ready to leave.

I've had a few of those in my life, and if I'm being truthful, I haven't always handled them particularly well. 💁‍♀️

I've stood in front of a closed door asking God why He would shut it when I was so sure that was where I was supposed to go.

Sometimes I've knocked a few more times just to make sure He didn't change His mind.

But I've learned something over the years.

When God closes a door I expected to stay open, it is often because He is opening another one—and I've been too busy staring at the closed one to notice.

That doesn't mean the closed door didn't hurt or that we have to pretend we didn't want what was on the other side.

Sometimes we may need a little time to grieve what we thought life was going to look like.

But eventually, I turn around because that is where God is leading me.

When I find myself in one of those seasons, I come back to these words:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” — Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV)

So if you're standing in front of a closed door today, dear one, maybe take a deep breath and simply ask:

Lord, please show me the door you are opening.

Then turn around and look. ❤️

You might be surprised by what's waiting for you. I know I have been. 😅💁‍♀️ Sometimes it is something right outside my comfort zone, but it alway turns out to be so much better than the door I wished had stayed open.

With so much love from Willow Creek,

Glory ❤️

P.S. I'm praying that wherever you find yourself today, you'll have the courage to release what has closed and the courage to see what God is opening next.

I'm praying for you too, sweet sister! 🫶 Hey friends, it's Melissa Alyse and every month Glory shares her heart with us. If you'd like more notes from Glory, check out A Place to Belong, it is filled with sweet moments with her. And if you are wanting helping looking for the door the Lord might be opening, you might check out the 7 day Still Becoming devotional. Hugs + grace, Melissa Alyse ❤️