How do I know if God is closing a door? That’s a question I’ve watched my long-time writer friend, Abby McDonald, wrestle through in real time. She’s sharing three questions to discern whether difficulty is an obstacle or signals a closed door.

“I miss our friends,” I told my husband with a sigh. He nodded knowingly as we sat down to dinner with our two-year-old. Boxes lined the corners of my in-law’s basement apartment. We’d just moved in weeks before, after our second cross-country move in four years.

Before we’d made this big transition, we’d covered it in prayer, and God repeatedly signaled us to “Go.” We knew that a new church community and friendships were crucial, but both were slow in coming. In addition to a growing loneliness, we encountered other problems, such as selling our previous home and finding temporary housing while we waited.

When we make big life decisions and encounter difficulties, how do we know the difference between a closed door and a distraction? We want to honor God with choices that will help us grow and thrive. We know we aren’t guaranteed a trouble-free life, but how do we know when God is signaling us to walk away?

During those first few months after our move, I considered returning to our previous home in Utah several times. Our house sat on the market, seemingly beckoning our return. I longed for certainty about what the future held, but questions brought more ambiguity than answers.

Despite our struggle, I knew another move wasn’t the answer. Through lots of prayer (and some whining, too), God showed me that I needed to adopt a long-term perspective on our circumstances, rather than focusing on our short-term problems.

He showed me a disruption to my well-laid plan didn’t mean He wasn’t making a way forward.

But sometimes, we don’t even consult God to determine if a disruption to our plans is from Him. We assume it isn’t, and we call it quits.

What if distractions can be holy moments? What if instead of obstructions to our path, LINK we viewed them as opportunities to transform our minds?

In Romans 12:2, Paul tells us this world follows a pattern. He exhorts us not to conform to it, but heeding this instruction requires a transformation on our part.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (ESV) The problem is that we often adopt habits or patterns to deal with the complexities of life without even realizing it.

The good news? We have a Guide who is more than willing to help us when we are intentional about seeking Him. Here are three questions we can ask ourselves when we face obstacles to our path and wonder whether they signal a closed door or a distraction.

1. Have I prayed to God and asked Him to either remove this obstacle or help me persist through it?

Even if God doesn’t remove the obstacle, He often gives peace in the middle of it. He will also help us to see new ways He’s working in our situation, ways we often don’t expect or anticipate.

Now, if we’re experiencing constant anxiety or emotional turmoil, this may be a sign that we need to draw a boundary or close a door. God does not want us to sacrifice our health on the altar of pride. But He does want to grow us up, and this sometimes means persisting through discomfort.

2. How might my resolve or persistence through this obstacle grow not only my faith but the faith of others who are watching?

If we’re never prompted to step outside our area of familiarity, we won’t grow. What we view as a closed door is often God’s way of refining us into followers who are relentless in our pursuit of His call on our lives. The troubles we face could become living testimonies of His faithfulness and opportunities for Him to move in ways only He could.

3. To overcome this obstacle, does God have to intervene in ways only He can?

There are times when, unless God intervenes, the hurdles will be impossible to surmount. He places us in these positions so that we will not only call on Him, but witness a miracle. And often, others will too.

As we share our testimony and invite others to be part of what God is doing, revival can happen. However, if our faith relies solely on our ability and we don’t have to test the limits, our view of God may remain within the box we’ve placed Him in.

Sometimes, the biggest distraction to our persistence with God is waiting. But what if we viewed waiting as an opportunity to seek God’s heart more?

The months after our family moved forced my husband and me to rely on God in new ways and trust Him more than we trusted a specific outcome. When the road ahead seemed uncertain, we had to repeatedly surrender our “How long, Lord?” to Him.

In time, we found a church home, friends, and community. Our house took longer to sell than we wanted, but God provided during the in-between. And as I look back on that season of our lives now, I can see God’s hand all over it.

Friend, if you’re going through a challenging season right now and wondering whether God is closing a door, can I encourage you to seek Him before walking away? Sometimes, God uses what appears to be a closed door as a training ground for righteousness.

He uses it as an opportunity to shape our desires into His desire and grow our character. During those seasons, we remember the value of persistence and patience. Our roots grow deep into the soil He tills with His love and tenderness.

If the door is closed, God will make it clear. But if it isn’t, keep seeking, waiting, and persevering. And in time, you will see the mighty work He did in that place.

*Elements of this piece were adapted from Abby McDonald’s new book, Surrendering Certainty, available wherever books are sold.

Abby McDonald is the author of Shift and the new book, Surrendering Certainty: Hearing God Today by Letting Go of Tomorrow, a fellow sojourner’s guide to get unstuck and respond to God’s voice in faith. Abby is also a speaker and writing coach, and writes for Proverbs 31 Ministries; daily devotional, Encouragement for Today. When she’s not writing, Abby taxis her three kids around while drinking copious amounts of coffee. Sign up for Abby’s free 5 Days to Unstuck Challenge to help you break free from patterns of insecurity and regret, and connect with her on Instagram.

The post How Do I Know if God is Closing a Door? appeared first on Lisa Appelo.