“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that Hath The Key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth.” (Revelation 3:7)
Recently I was thinking about all of the reasons that I personally have to give God thanks. During the course of those thoughts a number of things came up, but they were the usual things that most of us often think about being grateful for. And if you’re like me (human), I’m sure most of those things were “good” things.Things like: the pay raise, the new house or car, healing in the body, food, clothes, and shelter, etc.
Don’t get me wrong. There’s absolutely  nothing wrong with being thankful for these things, because they too come to us from the gracious hand of God.
But, hindsight can be a good revealer; and as I thought back about God’s blessings and goodness over our lives, I couldn’t help but think about what things could’ve possibly been like if God had opened doors for me that I had honestly hoped and prayed He would open. 
Have you ever thought like that?
Well, I have. 
I remember several years back, I had gotten home from an “extended vacation” (the church knows what I’m referring to… :-)), and I was exhausting myself trying to seek and search out some kind of gainful employment, and nothing was opening up for me. I must’ve gone to a dozen places; and although most of them gave me the promise of calling me back, none of those promises were ever fulfilled. They were all “Closed Doors”.
Finally, a door opened, by the Grace of God. It wasn’t quite the opportunity that I was looking for, but it was something; and looking back, I can now see how God used it to allow me the liberty I needed to get around, and establish a level of trust and flexibility, in spite of the restrictions I had placed upon me. It was the perfect opportunity. 
After that door opened, another door opened!! God blessed me with not one, but TWO jobs!! Then, as a result of the second job, I was able to be equipped with the skill-set needed to eventually start my very own business!!!… It just kept getting better and better; and it’s STILL getting better today!! Praise God!
But here’s the point that I want to emphasize: Many doors were closed to me; but had it not been for the “closed doors”, who knows if I would’ve ever been blessed to walk through the “open doors”??
Many times we get discouraged over supposedly “missed opportunities”, or “lost chances”; it’s a natural thing to feel this way. But have you ever considered that, sometimes, what we miss out on could very well be The Sovereign and loving hand of God “protecting us” from something that may somehow be a detriment to our lives?
I’ve often wanted so many things to Be “My will” that was not necessarily “God’s will” for my life. I’ve gotten bent out of shape more than once over not getting to have “my way”, and I’ve found myself being disappointed about what I naturally do not understand nor see the end of. 
Yet I’ve come to realize and learn (still an ongoing growth process) that God is Faithful, above all else; and whatever Doors He chooses to Keep Closed in my life is a direct extension of His Faithfulness towards me.
So, today, along with everything else that I have to be Thankful for, I am just as Grateful for The “Closed Doors” in my Life.

Lord, we don’t see as you do; therefore, we oftentimes fall short in trusting you when things don’t seem to go our way. Help us to know and understand that, no matter what happens in our lives, good or bad, You are working it all out together for our good because You are faithful. We thank you for what you protect us from, and we thank you for what you bring.
In Christ’s Love, 
Pastor Lowe