A Short Prayer of Thanksgiving: Thank God for Closed Doors and New Directions

Rania Naim highlights how gratitude for closed doors and endings can lead us to better ways. In Finding God Every DayRebecca Simon shows how God’s presence in life’s journey turns setbacks into hope. Read below to embrace trust and gratitude today.

Thank you for all the closed doors. Thanks for redirecting me to something better. Thank you for keeping me from going into places that were not meant for me. Thank you for deviating because it has led me to better places—places I have never known. Thank you for not letting me settle for second best because you have something much bigger and better for me.

Thanks for all the NO’s. Thank you for the times I was rejected and the times you forced me to let go of the things I wanted the most because now I know they were wrong for me. Now I know I’m better off without them. Now I know what I deserve. Now I know you were teaching me to be patient because a big “YES” is on the way. A big “YES” is the reason why I hear all these NO’s.

Thanks for all the conclusions. Thanks for all the goodbyes. Thank you for giving me the strength and courage to get rid of things that weren’t meant for me and separate from all the things that brought me down. Thank you for ending things in my life even before I was ready because you were preparing me for the best. Thank you for removing certain people from my life because they will eventually break my heart. I am grateful for the sad ending because it is preparing me for a happy one. The one who will stay.

Thanks for all the roadblocks. Thank you for directing my life in a different direction. Thank you for letting me see that there is more than one path I can take. There is more than one life to live. There is more than one place to go. Thank you for making me realize that my journey will never be entirely my own. Thank you for pointing me to where I need to go because you show me where I belong. You take me to a place I can call home. He shows me the light.

Thank you for all the unanswered prayers. I didn’t know what was best for me, and I still don’t know, but I trust you. I trust you because you know best. I trust you because you hear me cry at night. I trust you because you know what will make me happy. I trust you because you will not burden me with more than I can handle, and I trust you because you are the only decision maker I trust. You are the only teacher I can listen to. You are the only one who knows my heart and soul, and I cannot ask you to follow my plans. You are the best editor. I know you have big things planned for me. I know every “blessing” you took will eventually turn into a curse.

So thank you. Thank you for closing the doors I need to walk through. Thanks for closing the doors I need to stop punching. Thank you for closing these doors because I know you are about to open a better one, and I can’t wait to see what you have in store for me.