But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.
For the last several posts we’ve been looking at Acts 12:1-16. Or the time when Peter is rescued from prison by an angel. What surprised me was the humor I found hidden in these verses. First, there’s Peter’s slap your head, what was I thinking kind of moment when he realizes he wasn’t having a vision. Instead, this was real and he’s been rescued. Then there’s Rhoda the servant girl who forgets to open the door because she’s so happy. It’s comical and so relatable.
Humor aside, this little section is also packed with some practical truths. We’ve discovered the power of earnest prayers (read more about that here). And how important it is to make sure we’re not leaving miracles standing outside because we forgot to open the door. It’s pointless to pray for a miracle but then never get up and open the door when it arrives.
Then we went from the elation of God’s deliverance one moment to standing in front of a closed door the next (read more about that here). It’s hard to stand in front of closed doors knowing that it should’ve opened a long time ago.
The question in moments like this is, why aren’t they opening? Especially since we know this is where we need to be.
The litmus test for God’s will
For a good portion of my life, the litmus test for God’s will was open doors. If a door opened, God was signaling me to walk through it. Conversely, if a door was closed it meant, time to move on or go another direction. Well…that’s not necessarily true.
A closed door doesn’t mean it’s not God’s will. It could also mean, it’s not the right time. Or it could be a tool to teach endurance and perseverance. The only litmus test for God’s will is the Bible and prayer.
This means we may never know why a door is closed. Sometimes hindsight reveals the answer. Other times it may remain a mystery. The reality is God’s ways are so much higher than our own (Isa 55:8-9). Our knowledge and understanding pales in comparison to His. And try as we may, He’s too big to fit into our box of human expectations.
The Christian journey
But more than the practical truths, this passage paints a picture of the Christian journey. There will be times when we can feel God tangibly working in our lives, helping us overcome obstacles and freeing us from chains. And it’s amazing!
However, there will also be times when we’re standing alone in front of a closed door. And it can be frustrating! Especially if we’ve seen God providentially lead us to this point. Yet despite our best efforts, the door doesn’t open. Not even a crack. And we have no idea why. Those seasons are hard.
The best way to navigate them is to remember we walk by faith (2 Cor 5:7). Meaning, not knowing why should never prevent us from knocking. The God who opens doors is still with us even if it feels like we’re standing alone. He’s just as present in the valleys as He was in the mountaintops. And all He asks is to keep knocking.
Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7 NLT