Closed doors
I Samuel 16:1, “Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel ? Fill your horn with oil and go ; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons.”
The prophet Samuel had anointed a king over Israel.(A king that God never wanted!)For a few years Saul had followed God, but eventually he let the power he had get to his head, and his rebellious heart led him to disobey God. God therefore rejected him as king over Israel.
The fact that Saul had sinned, and was rejected by God deeply affected the prophet, and he went into a depression. After a while God asked Samuel why are you still grieving over Saul?(He made his own bed now he must lay in it.) I am still here with you, and Israel, my people. Get your stuff together and go to Bethlehem because I have chosen a new king. This reminds me of the story of Joshua.
After the children of Israel came to the Jordan river Moses died, and Joshua mourned over the loss of their leader, but after the time of mourning God reminded Joshua that He was still with Israel, and He would give them what He had promised. The door had closed before them and they were lost, but in both cases God had opened a new door that could not be seen by them in their depression.
I am certain that the disciples felt this same way when Jesus was crucified. The door that they had been going through was slammed in their face, and they went into a deep depression. This is totally normal from a human viewpoint, and I believe that God understands, but eventually we must get over our depression and continue moving in the direction of God! Jesus reminded the disciples that even though He was no longer with them, physically, they must continue moving forward. He told them in the Great Comission that they were to go into all the world teaching, preaching and baptizing in His Name; and He said He would be with them in Spirit.
Depression is a normal human emotion, and response to a setback; but eventually we must get over it and continue moving forward.Our circumstances may change, but one thing that will never change is that God is always there to lead us! There is an old saying, “God never allows one door to close without opening another one.” The door that God opens for us cannot be seen in our depression, but when we look to Him then it will become visible; and we can continue moving in the direction He has chosen!
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Father God, I thank You for always opening a door for me, and I ask Father that You would help me to look to You so I can see clearly. In Jesus’ name, Amen
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Yes, You Can Ministry 
