‘When God closes a door, he opens a window.’
You may have heard this pithy phrase, usually given to offer comfort when much-desired plans have fallen through. There’s a good deal of truth in it, although it’s rarely so simple.
Paul regularly used the language of ‘open doors’ to describe opportunities to proclaim the gospel, whether among Gentiles (Acts 14.27), or in Ephesus (1 Corinthians 16.9). (Although note, the open door in Ephesus was accompanied by ‘many adversaries.’ An open door doesn’t necessarily mean an easy one!)
But in Acts 16.6–10, doors Paul expected to be open are surprisingly shut.
Paul and his companions travelled throughout Phrygia and Galatia, on their way to Asia. This seemed like a strategic route, but for some undisclosed reason the Spirit refused them entry. Acts doesn’t explain why, or even how, but we can be sure it wasn’t that God didn’t want people there to hear the gospel, since shortly after he did open up doors in that region such that almost all of Asia heard the gospel (Acts 19.10,26). For whatever reason, the Spirit shut the door to Paul for that particular moment.
Instead, he went to Troas, where he did indeed find an open door. But despite this, Paul still lacked peace of mind, so concluded that God was leading him elsewhere (2 Corinthians 2.12–13).
It’s in this context that the Holy Spirit spoke through a vision of a Macedonian man, begging him to come and help his people. Luke records, ‘After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them’ (Acts 16.10).
This account raises many questions and a profound challenge.
The Holy Spirit’s guidance is rarely as simple as the old aphorism suggests. Sometimes he leads by closing doors entirely – even doors he may re-open in the future. At other times, he places us before an open door or window, but still doesn’t give us peace to proceed. And at other times still, he’ll fling wide a door, and ask us to follow him.
Learning to journey with the Spirit involves discernment, even in the face of mystery. He doesn’t follow formulas. We won’t always know why some doors open and others shut, but understanding is not a prerequisite for obedience. We must keep our hearts open to his prompting, and ready to follow.
Read the Bible 
Processing...