I am sitting in my office today thinking of New Zealand, wearing my All Blacks
shirt, and over the past few years I have gradually figured out Rugby (great
game!). This spring my family passed the 3 year mark since the Lord closed the
door for us to head to NZ as missionaries.
People have asked if I was disappointed to not go to NZ,
and the answer is yes and no. Yes, because I was burdened for the people to
know Christ, burdened to see solid churches who love Christ, people, and their
communities established, burdened to see young men trained for the ministry. No, because I honestly couldn't imagine serving there
when God had so clearly closed the door.
In the last few years God has really taught me 3 things
about closed doors:
1. He closes them for our good.
This was probably one of the hardest lessons for me to learn. After leaving a
church we loved in Jacksonville, FL and traveling for 2.5 years all over the
place trying to raise support, getting a closed door didn't seem like it was “for
my good.” But in reality it really was. Sometimes we say closed doors are good
because it means that God will open another, and while that is true, it
discounts the goodness of God in closing the door in the first place. I truly
believe one of the reasons God closed the door for my family to head to NZ was
a difference in philosophy in some areas that I didn't think would be that big
of a deal, but now 3 years later and 3 years as a Senior Pastor, I realize they
would be have a point of friction that the ministries I love in NZ didn't need.
2. He closes them for His Glory.
It
is easy to say that everything happens for God’s glory, but sometimes it is
tough to live like that. As the Lord closed the door to NZ, I was introduced to
wonderful community in AR. It is a town I had never heard of, with a church I
had never of, and full of people I had never met. It was hurting church, it had
recently split, but it had people who wanted to grow and who are some of the
most gracious people that I have had the privilege to serve alongside of. The
Lord gives us gifts and knowing what we are gifted with and using those gifts
is essential to a healthy church. I am graciously reminded almost daily, how
God put me in a ministry where my gifts are maximized. Each church is
wonderfully unique, and being in a ministry that allows my family to thrive is
a gracious blessing.
3. Closed doors are great teachers.
I
cannot begin to tell all the things that God taught me through closing this
particular door, but let me give you a few:
- I treat missionaries on deputation with deep respect. My ministry is the better because of this.
- I have a bigger vision for the needs of missionaries, our church is better because of this.
- My philosophy of ministry has been shaped by many churches, pastors, and missionaries. My church family is better because of this.
- I have more patience with people as they struggle through the question “what is God’s will for my life.” My counseling is better because of this.
- I have a better understanding of the big picture (though I wish I understood it even more!). My family is better because of this.
- I have a deeper trust in who God is and that He is always good. My walk with God is better because of this.
So today, if you find yourself the recipient of a closed
door, whether it was expected or not, do not be discouraged. Get out your
notebook and take some notes, because God is teaching you something. Celebrate
it, study it, remember it, grow from it, but most importantly glorify God with
it! When you get to that open door, be thankful for all the closed doors God put in your path to guide you there.
