The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the Lord . . . Psalm 37:23

This journey called life takes us through many doors all while we are in search of “the” door. The scripture tells us not to despise small beginnings (Zechariah 4:10 (NLT)). Those small beginnings, like the many doors, help us to gain experience for use when we arrive at “the” door, and those various experiences help to mature us and prepare us to walk in “the” door with confidence.

Naturally, we tend to become frustrated as we walk through our many doors trying to find “the” door. In our pursuit of the right door or the right path, or the big break, we can lose sight of the experiences we gain. We often quote Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose;” however, if we really believed that scripture, we would have peace in the place or whatever door we find ourselves. After all, the scripture did say, “according to His purpose.” We are walking out His purpose for our lives and not our plans.

Frustration also sets in when we assume our plans are in-synch with God’s purpose. If we are honest, most times they are not. Our plans are based on what we want; how we want it; when we want it; and with whom we want it. We simply assume that God cosigned them. Proverbs 19:21 (NIV) tells us that, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” When we find ourselves frustrated with where we are, that would be a good time to pause and ask the Lord what is His purpose for that particular door. Because, again, if we believe that “all things work together for good. . .,” whatever door we stand before, God already has a plan to use it for our good.

Romans 5:3-4 (NIV) also illustrates why we walk through many doors. It reads, “. . . we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Each door we walk through, every path we take, and all of our collective life experiences – the good, the bad and the ugly – shape us into the person that God has called us to be. As we walk through these different doors, the Lord wants us to grow through them – develop perseverance/endurance, character and allow hope/faith to be formed in us. When our hope/faith is in the Lord, we are not put to shame. (“Hope does not put us to shame.” Romans 5:5(a)). We know He “always causes us to triumph.” (2 Corinthians 2:14 (a))

As we prepare to go into a new leap year, and a new decade, let us walk through every door with the assurance that our God is with us always (Matthew 28:20), and He has assured us that His grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9) for each and every door we face.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Eternal, “plans for peace, not evil, to give you a future and hope—never forget that.” Jeremiah 29:11 (VOICE)