Key scripture -“Everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude.” (1 Timothy 4:4).

Did you know that the closed doors in your life can lead to blessings?

What looks like a closed door to you is God’s pathway to blessing. What appears to you to be a disaster can become His dream for your life, and what may seem like the worst news you could possibly receive can actually be the point of a new beginning. This is because no matter what God allows to touch your life, He has a plan for your future through it.

It is easy to think of God’s goodness in a lighthearted way when it seems that we have everything going for us—a good job, health, a healthy family and relationships, and a house with several bedrooms. Life seems rich and full. But if we never learn to say “thank you” to the Lord, then we have not learned the truth of James 1:17. “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”

There are two extremes that can prevent us from living with grateful hearts.

One is a sense of pride. We become prideful and believe that we have earned all that we have on our own. When we have this attitude, we can expect to run headlong into trouble. “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18).

The second extreme comes as a result of feeling sorry for ourselves. While the temptation to be sorrowful, and even depressed and discouraged, may pull at our hearts at times, we need to refuse it by turning our eyes heavenward. With a grateful heart we should say, “Thank You, Lord. I’m hurting right now but I know You understand. I don’t know how You will use this heartache that I am feeling, but I trust You to do just that, use it for Your glory and for my good.”

God loves to hear our words of worship and praise. When we thank Him, even in times of difficulty, for His constant care over our lives, we are expressing our faith and trust in an Omnipotent God who watches over every aspect of our lives. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Therefore, be grateful that the light of His love covers you no matter what is going on in your life.

We also need to remember that our perception is not always reality. An example of this is when Jezebel was trying to kill the prophet Elijah and the nation was falling to the worship of Baal, Elijah thought that he was the only prophet in the land who had not bent his knee to Baal. From his vantage point he thought that it was all over and he wanted to die. Then, the Lord sent His angel to correct Elijah’s perception: “Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19:18). Elijah’s perception was not reality because there were seven thousand prophets that Elijah knew nothing about who were still worshipping God not Baal!

Whenever things are going poorly, there is a temptation to believe God is not working in the situation. We may even believe our life is over because everything from our vantage point is dark. We see no future. However, even in these times, God’s plan is being orchestrated behind the scenes. He is accomplishing His purposes for your life, and doing a thousand things behind the scenes that you do not even know about.

Do you need a reality check on your situation? Ask God to show you the truth. It will be very different than your perception.

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, forgive me because I have experienced both extremes, pride and feeling sorry for myself. What I need to do is to turn to You in prayer, talk to You about my feelings, and lay my problem at Your throne and wait for You. You are so faithful even when I am not. You are here with me. You are my Fortress. You are The Lord of Heaven’s Armies. (Psalm 46:11). You are my Strong Hightower. You are my Refuge. I will not be afraid because You are always with me and You are always in control. (Isaiah 44:5). Father, I have nothing to fear because You go before me and are behind me. You hem me in and Your Right Hand is upon me. (Psalm 139:5). Yes Lord, I receive what you have allowed in my life. Give me eyes to see it the way you see it and to always remember that God is Good! In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.