The Call I Made at a Closed Door

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” — Proverbs 3:5–6

After a long interruption to our prison ministry, we learned that the team needed renewed clearances before visits could resume. I contacted the facility, confirmed what was required and arranged a Saturday for our paperwork to be completed.

Then I realised I had double-booked myself.

My workplace needed me to make a presentation elsewhere on the same day. I could not be in both places, so another member of the ministry team agreed to coordinate the clearance visit. He took the lead, the team submitted its paperwork, and the process moved forward without me.

There was only one problem: my own clearance was now a week behind everyone else’s.

Going Alone

I intended to visit during the following week, but one responsibility after another prevented me. By the next Saturday, I had reached my last practical opportunity to deliver the paperwork.

This time, I went alone.

When I arrived late that morning, the entrance seemed deserted. There was no visible activity. I walked to the main doors, but they did not open.

After all the arranging, rescheduling and travel, it appeared that I had arrived at a closed building.

I had one option left: call the front desk and hope that whoever answered would understand why I was there.

Before dialling, I prayed briefly.

A Familiar Voice

The person who answered was someone familiar with our ministry.

He recognised me, confirmed that I was standing outside and arranged for a guard to let me in. The staff signed the necessary documents, helped copy my identification and expressed their encouragement about the ministry returning.

Minutes earlier, I had been standing outside an unresponsive door with no visible way forward. Yet the assistance I needed was already inside. I simply could not see it from where I stood.

Guidance Usually Includes Ordinary Steps

Proverbs 3:5–6 is sometimes treated as though trusting God means waiting for a dramatic sign. But acknowledging the Lord does not remove the need to think, communicate, delegate, travel, call and complete paperwork.

God’s direction often meets us within ordinary responsibilities.

I had to admit the scheduling conflict rather than pretend I could meet both commitments. I had to let another person lead the team. I had to return later on my own. And when the door would not open, I had to use the remaining option in front of me.

None of those steps felt spectacular. Together, however, they formed a path.

When Our Understanding Reaches Its Limit

From outside the building, my understanding of the situation was simple: nobody was there and the visit had failed.

That conclusion was reasonable, but it was incomplete.

The locked appearance of the entrance told me what I could see. It could not tell me who was inside, who would answer the telephone or what help had already been prepared.

This is one reason Scripture warns us not to lean entirely upon our own understanding. Our understanding is not always wrong, but it is always limited. We see the door; God sees both sides of it.

Trust does not require us to deny what is in front of us. It asks us to acknowledge that what we can see is not the whole reality.

An Open Door Is Not the Only Test

I also want to avoid a common mistake. A door opening does not automatically prove that every plan behind it is God’s will. Jonah found a ship travelling in the direction of his disobedience. Opportunity alone is not sufficient guidance.

God directs us through His Word, prayer, wisdom, responsibility and godly counsel. Circumstances form part of the picture, but they must not replace obedience to what He has already revealed.

In this case, the purpose was straightforward: complete the lawful requirements for a ministry that shared the gospel and served others. The open entrance did not create that purpose; it allowed us to continue pursuing it responsibly.

Make the Call

Sometimes faith means waiting. Sometimes it means accepting that a plan has ended. And sometimes it means taking the one reasonable step still available.

I did not know who would answer that telephone. I only knew that standing outside and assuming failure would not complete the task.

Prayer did not make the call unnecessary. It helped me make the call while entrusting the response to God.

When you face what appears to be a closed door, ask what faithfulness requires now. Is there someone you should contact? A responsibility you should complete? A person you need to trust with leadership? A simple step you have delayed because you cannot guarantee the result?

You may discover that the help you need is already closer than you can see.

Prayer: Lord, my understanding is limited, but Your wisdom is perfect. Teach me to acknowledge You in both major decisions and ordinary responsibilities. Give me humility to share leadership, courage to take the next faithful step and peace when I cannot see what lies beyond the door. Direct my path according to Your Word and Your will. Amen.