Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are infinite wisdom. You are Alpha and Omega—beginning and end. Thank You for closing doors that needed to be closed. I trust you and know that You are taking care of me. Help me to see when You have closed a door for my good. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen
Scriptures: For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9 NKJV
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 NKJV
Sometimes I wonder what was going through Joseph’s mind each time a door was slammed shut in his life. Let’s look at the first door that was shut: family. Genesis 37 describes how Joseph was treated by his brothers and cut off from his family for many years. Because God is who He is, He had an amazing plan and this door needed to be closed for a season.
No doubt this was painful for Joseph. The enemy has a way of trying to make pain linger by bringing back thoughts of how we were mistreated, but let’s take a lesson from Joseph. Joseph did not wallow in defeat, shame, or resentment because the Lord was with him (Genesis 39:2). When our Lord allows a door to close, He continues to keep us.
Joseph was living a successful life (Genesis 39:2) and in charge of everything Potiphar had (Genesis 39:4). Potiphar was contagiously blessed because Joseph was in his home (Genesis 39:5). But Potiphar’s wicked wife wanted Joseph to sin by sleeping with her. He refused, so she accused him of assault. This is another door that the Lord allowed to be closed in Joseph’s life. Joseph was thrown in jail, but the Lord was still with him (Genesis 39:21,23).
Once again Joseph was given authority. A third door was closed when Joseph thought that his ticket out of prison was going to be when the chief butler would remember and mention how Joseph had helped him; however, it did not work out that way. When the chief butler was released from prison, he forgot all about Joseph helping him while they were both prisoners (Genesis 40:23). Have you ever felt alone, forgotten, or overlooked? It is not a good feeling, but remember: when God allows a door to close, He continues to keep us. That was not the end for Joseph, but it may have felt like it. It has felt that way for me.
In His time, God allowed a door to open for Joseph—Pharaoh needed help understanding a dream. This was Joseph’s ticket out of jail. Once again, he was given authority and placed in charge over all of Egypt (Genesis 41:41). This new door that God allowed to be opened positioned Joseph to help his brothers, reconnect with his father, and save many generations. From Joseph’s actions and attitude I have learned to say this when God allows a door to close:
Lord, You are in charge of it all. What are you positioning me for by closing this door? Help me to have the right heart posture so that when You allow the great door to open I can walk through it giving You all the honor.
Copyright Niccori Thomas-Brown. To connect with the author email niccorithomas@gmail.com
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One Response
I still think of this day’s devo almost a month later. It came on the anniversary of a door being closed in my life that was very, very painful. The timing was perfect and, I know, of God. I am still working on acceptance of it and wondering if it is a permanent closed door or one that is just for a season until His timing is right. Very blessed by this as I wait on the Lord.