Thank God for Closed Doors

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.” — Romans 8:28“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” — Genesis 50:20

Thankful.

That’s what I am.

Extremely thankful.

I am thankful for God redirecting me, but at the time, all I saw was rejection. I didn’t do life the right way. I found myself a single parent at 19 years old. That wasn’t the plan. So, in trying to make a wrong a right, I kept holding onto a relationship God never intended for me to have. I wanted to be married. I wanted my children to have one father — my husband — the way God intended. But how do you desire to do things God’s way, but instead do them your way, and then want God to fix it?

Unacceptable.

The beautiful thing about God is He steps in just when we need Him most. He showed me what I refused to see — that my son’s father was not for me.

Wasted time.

Wasted years I can’t get back.

Now faced with raising my son alone.

But what looked like rejection for me was actually God redirecting me because He had bigger plans. And today, I can proudly say that God sent me someone meant just for me. If it’s His will, I’ll celebrate 20 years on June 24, 2026.

I was led to write this because we need to understand the weight of rejection. Not all of us can simply move on to the next thing. Some of us ponder questions like:

• What is wrong with me?

• Why wasn’t I chosen?

When we let those questions linger too long, they begin to take root in our hearts. That kind of thinking can grow into a struggle we carry for years — even though God has already called us to live free in Him.

The weight of rejection often leads to isolation — and many times, we bring that on ourselves. It’s not always about losing a job, going through a divorce, or being left out. Sometimes, it’s more subtle. Maybe you’ve been teased or made fun of, so you isolate yourself. Maybe you struggle with your weight and you don’t want to hear anyone’s comments, so you pull away. Or worse, you settle for someone who mistreats you because you’re lonely and convinced that no one else will want you anyway.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve fallen into every one of those categories. I’m naturally introverted, and for a long time, I believed I didn’t know how to hold a good conversation. So, I avoided situations whenever I could. I was often teased about my weight, so staying home felt safer. And I tolerated more than I should have in unhealthy relationships because deep down, I believed no one else would want me anyway.

On my way to work this morning, I was listening to a podcast featuring Tim Tebow, the former NFL player. He was talking about the importance of seeing people the way God sees us — valuable. But as I listened, I realized: before we can truly see others as valuable, we have to see ourselves that way first. Too often, we hold on to the sting of rejection instead of recognizing that it might be God redirecting us.

I’m reminded of Joseph and his brothers in the Bible. Joseph was his father’s favorite, and his brothers grew jealous — so jealous that they rejected him and sold him into slavery. Yet through that very act of rejection, God positioned Joseph to one day save his family from famine. As Genesis 50:20 reminds us:

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

It’s a classic example of how God can take what looks like rejection and use it as redirection for His greater purpose.

I’m thankful for every ounce of rejection I’ve experienced. I couldn’t see it then, but every “no” shaped me, strengthened me, and molded me into who I am today.

If you’re walking through rejection right now, praise God for it — praise Him that the job didn’t work out, that the relationship ended, that doors closed. Because sometimes, God loves us too much to let us settle for less than His plan.

What doors in your life have closed and left you devastated? Was it the end of a marriage? The loss of a job? Maybe it’s the ache of not feeling like you belong anywhere. Whatever it is, remember this: rejection is never the end of your story. It’s often the beginning of God’s redirection. When one door closes, He’s preparing another — one that leads to healing, purpose, and peace.

So today, choose to thank Him not just for the open doors, but for the closed ones too. Because both are signs of His love and His plan.

Exclusive for Blog Readers! Inspired by my journey and this blog post, this T-shirt is a reminder that even closed doors are part of God's plan. "Thank God for the Closed Doors." This shirt is only available here for $20 - not sold anywhere else. Want to get yours? Send me an email at hello.yolandarhynes.com to order your exclusive tee. Limited quantities available - only for blog readers. Soft, warm, and pre-shrunk for a perfect fit. Made of 50% cotton and 50% polyester, this classic crewneck features durable double-needle stitching. Available in white, gray, green, blue and red.

Size	Chest (in)
S	34–36
M	38–40
L	42–44
XL	46–48
2XL	50–52
3XL	54–56
4XL	58–60
5XL	62–64

Measure around the fullest part of your chest/bust for best fit.

No matter what doors have closed in your life, remember: God is redirecting you toward something greater. Just like this shirt reminds us, even closed doors are part of His plan. Wear it boldly as a testimony of faith, resilience, and His perfect timing.