Walk With God Through Open Doors

Have you ever wondered why certain doors in life seem to open for us while others are slammed shut?

In Roman mythology, the god of doors is named Janus. It’s where we get the word 'January', the month when we enter into a new year. The term 'janitor' also derives from Janus. A janitor holds the keys to a building and controls the coming in and going out. Janus is usually depicted with two faces, one looking forward and one looking back. He represents leaving one place behind and entering another.

As we move forward in life, we sometimes ask God to “open a door” for us in order to achieve a dream or life goal, like getting a certain job or finding a spouse. 

My friend who produces a TV show recently gave some advice to people hoping to break into the entertainment industry. “Find your cohort and work on building each other up, not tearing each other down,” she said. “And walk through every open door.”

That’s not bad advice. If a door opens, give it a shot. See what’s on the other side.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Even if an open door leads you to a place that is not what you hoped for, good can still come out of the experience. Professionally, I have taken on projects in good faith only to have them fall apart. But I made new friends and colleagues in the process. I’ve been on dates that didn’t lead to marriage, but they did lead to great friendships. 

And yet… Some doors won’t open no matter how much we want them to. We rattle the doorknob and tug and bang against the door, but it just won’t open. I believe that is God protecting us. 

We can’t always see what’s on the other side, but God does and He knows we’re not meant to go there.

Sometimes we can’t even see the closed door, like the time I ran and smacked face first into a sliding plexiglass door I didn’t know was there. Ouch. We go barreling forward thinking we’re on a good path, but God knows better so He stops us. It might hurt for a moment, but it’s best for us.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus said he is the gate (or door) for his flock. It may sound demeaning to be compared to sheep, but let’s be honest. Sheep lack a “homing device” and can’t find the gate to their pen without a shepherd guiding them. In the same way, we don’t always know how to get where God wants us to go. We either can’t see the door or we try different doors. But God loves us and tells us to trust Him.

So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came [before me] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture” (John 10:7-9). 

And why does he do this? Because he wants what’s good for us. “A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

Jesus is the door to abundant life, both eternally and also here in our daily life on Earth. 

When we cling to Him, praying and seeking wisdom and living in love, we can trust He will lead us where we need to go. That way, we can be less frustrated when some doors remain closed and others swing wide open for us to enter.

So don’t be afraid. Like my friend advised, walk through every open door. It doesn’t mean you have to stay in the room you enter. Sometimes you see it’s best to turn around and walk out. But maybe some good things will have come from trying.

Do you want to go on a date with that girl? Ask her. See what happens. Do you want to pursue a job or take up a new activity? Give it a shot. Maybe you’ll find it’s not for you, or maybe it will lead to something wonderful. 

Along the way, always try to follow the Shepherd who knows what’s best for you. He holds the keys to every door and He will take you where you need to go.