“When one door closes, another opens.” You have likely used this phrase, or had it said to you as a reminder that new opportunities are on the way. That phrase leads people to think there is a particular “door” they must locate and open to find the opportunity – a new job or promotion, waiting just for them. This is linear thinking.

However, neither careers nor life work like that. Life is more like a video game. The “game” is unique to you and can only be played once because it is your life or your career. In scripture we are reminded that our journey is unique to us. It is our race.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith… Hebrews 12:1-2

Each door opens to a new opportunity, it is not the destination itself, but it leads you to another door and the next opportunity. This game has surprises along the way. Some are unexpected trap doors that drop you unexpectedly to a spot you didn’t plan to go, such as job loss. You cannot go from start to level four, without going through the doors in levels one, two and three.

We seldom realize or appreciate the doors that have been opened for us until later. As they say, hindsight is 20/20. As a door opens for us, it may seem insignificant, yet it leads us somewhere we never imagined nor could have orchestrated on our own. This is God’s hand in the process.

Let me share three “doors” God opened for me that I never could have located on my own. I suspect you have some like these. And since we’re still alive, who knows what yet may come from these?

1. My friend Bill introduced me to Benjamin. He didn’t have to do it, but he took the time to make the introduction and asked Benjamin to meet with me, so he said, “yes.” When I met Benjamin, it wasn’t simply a quick 30 minutes. He poured into me that day and invested in me through subsequent meetings. I gained wisdom from him, and he also opened the door for me to write three articles for a local paper.

2. Gary introduced me to his longtime friend Joe. It was a nice conversation, yet the value was this resulted in an introduction to Pat, who I had first met almost two years prior. We have since stayed in touch. Recently, while together, I updated him on what I am doing. Pat told me I needed to meet Mark and then connected us. Mark, along with his business partner, Mark, have their own podcast. Now, thanks to Pat’s introduction, I will soon be a guest on the Dos Marcos podcast, speaking with a new audience, reaching a new industry.

3. Though we knew each other, Bob and I were not close friends in high school. Bob is now an author and the co-host on Family Life Today, a national radio program reaching over a half-million listeners daily. I reached out while writing my book, How Long, O Lord, How Long?, for his insights into becoming an author. He took my call and was helpful in sharing his wisdom. Almost two years later, during this pandemic, Family Life Today reached out and invited me to be a guest on their show to talk about unemployment.

I could go on and on with stories like these. I ask that you take a moment to reflect on the many doors God has opened for you. Take a moment to be blessed by these rather than focusing on those that have not yet opened.