As the saying goes, when one door closes, another opens. But does it? Have you ever chased after something only to find the door keeps shutting? Do you keep trying, or step back, thinking the door might need to stay closed?

I must admit I’m stubborn. If something gets stuck in my mind, it’s hard to let it go. Like a bulldog, I hold on to things that should have died long ago. If a door closes, I’m the one trying to kick it down. Wisdom might say to walk away, but I’m not always the wise one. I’ve been trying to purchase an item for my truck. At every turn, I’ve been frustrated by a lack of follow-up calls or responses to my emails or other messages. I sit wondering whether to let the idea go or keep pushing. I must admit, the message is often to stop pushing. Or, as my wife might tell me, “God is trying to tell you NO.” Of course, the voices in my head are often louder than any other voices. Sometimes I miss the point and keep pushing on a shut door that needs to stay shut.

I don’t give up easily. Sometimes the only motivation I need is someone saying, “You can’t.” I see that as a challenge to prove I can. How does that work out for me? Yeah, sometimes the outcome of that stubbornness doesn’t turn out very well. So, if I already know this about myself, you’d think I’d get wise in my old age. But I don’t. I suppose much of this has to do with how I was raised. I’ve learned over the years that just because one door closes doesn’t mean the next door that opens is a good one. It may take us down a path we would never have chosen if we weren’t so intent on opening a door just because it was in front of us.

I try, with limited success, to follow the simple teaching of Jesus. “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 633). Wouldn’t we all save ourselves a lot of heartache if we simply followed this teaching? Think about it.