Think Better Thursday: Not Every Door That Closes Is Rejection

There’s a Garth Brooks song about thanking God for unanswered prayers that has rung true so many times in my life. It’s easy to look back and be thankful for the times God didn’t answer your prayer because you now realize He had something better in mind. But in the moment? That unanswered prayer can feel like utter rejection.

Our thoughts start to spiral and include things like, “God isn’t for me.” “He doesn’t care about what I need.” “If He really loved me, He would have answered this prayer.” Those thoughts feel honest in the moment, but they aren’t rooted in truth.

Sometimes, God’s silence isn’t absence—it’s protection. And sometimes, the “no” you’re hearing isn’t rejection—it’s redirection.

A Better Way to See Closed Doors

We often assume a closed door means we did something wrong. But what if it actually means God is making something right? When we get caught up in disappointment, we forget that His perspective is higher than ours.

There are prayers I prayed years ago that I’m now grateful God didn’t answer the way I wanted. If He had, I would have settled for less than His best. But in the moment, I was crushed. That’s the tension of faith: learning to trust that God’s no is not a punishment—it’s preparation.

Emotionally, our brains are wired to seek certainty, so when something doesn’t go the way we hoped, we rush to fill in the blanks with self-blame or doubt. But healing comes when we pause before assigning meaning. A closed door doesn’t define your worth—it just redirects your steps.

Try This

1. Pause before labeling: When something doesn’t work out, resist calling it rejection. Ask, “What if this is redirection?”

2. Reframe your thoughts: Write down a closed door from your past that ended up being a blessing. Remind yourself: God’s no is never the end of the story.

3. Look for patterns of protection: Think back on seasons when you didn’t understand God’s timing but can now see His mercy woven through it.

Inviting God

When a prayer goes unanswered, ask God to help you trust that His “no” or “not yet” is still an act of love. He sees what you can’t, and He’s never late. “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” — Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)

Let’s Connect

Leave a comment or reach out to me via the website—let’s talk about how this has sparked your desire for better living. I’ll see you back here tomorrow for Fact-Checking Friday. And don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss any future posts.

If today’s message spoke to you, you’ll love my book My Pocket Counselor—it offers perspective-shifting truth and faith-filled guidance to help you grow emotionally and spiritually, one step at a time.