Something interesting came to mind while I was working today, perhaps some knowledge by the Spirit that didn't occur to me before. It goes like this:
There is a phrase used often within the body of Christ that refers to God's divine providence in all things, His complete control over all circumstances, which goes something along the lines of "When God opens a door, nobody can close it." It means that when God is moving in a believer's life and 'opens a door' for a specific task or ministry, no person can stop His hand from moving in that person's life. He will accomplish what He set out to do for that person without interference, although the enemy can try to with various obstacles, but ultimately His will will be done.
When a door opens by God for a believer, and is then shut due to circumstances or even a person's involvement, there can only be two conclusions: one, a person or circumstance stopped the will of God, or two, it was never God's will to begin with. But since the believer ultimately believes in God's providence and authority over all circumstances and people, the first conclusion would have to be eliminated, and we're only left with the second, that perhaps what that person thought was God's will, wasn't His will at all. Sometimes what we think of as God's will is really our own will wanting to be accomplishes. Rather than waiting on God and pursuing His will, we want God to bless our own plans and will for our lives. But since God knows better than we do and loves us and wants the best for us, and the way to that path or life is unknown to us because of our own physical limitations, we ultimately trust God and for His will to be accomplished.
Here's a few verses relating to God's providence:
* Genesis 50:20 - "As for you (Joseph's brother's), you meant evil against me (Joseph), but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today."
* Job 42:2 - "I (Job) know that you (God) can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted."
Looking at these verses, what seems clear is that, even if something seems to stop the will of God in a person's life, or it seems like an evil thing was done, it was really God's hand moving to accomplish His will, and that will and purpose, as Job states, cannot be thwarted. It will accomplish what He set out to do ultimately, even if we do not understand it. When plans seemed to be stopped by circumstances or people, the tendency is to blame others or a situation, but trust in God's will, trust that He knows exactly what He's doing to accomplish His purposes for your life and others. :)
