The Illusion of Open Doors

Sometimes, life brings you options that look like blessings. A job offer shows up just when you’re broke. And it feels divine, like confirmation. But not every open door is from God. 

Some are cleverly disguised distractions. The truth is, not everything good is God. And not every opportunity is meant to be pursued.

Jonah had a call from God; Go to Nineveh. It was a clear and direct call, unmistakable. But Jonah ran the opposite way and jumped on a ship to Tarshish. Here’s what’s crazy, he found a ship. 

There was space, and he had the money. The weather seemed perfect. By all human standards, the door to Tarshish was wide open. But it was a trap. A storm was brewing. Sometimes the fact that it’s working out smoothly doesn’t mean it’s right. Convenience is not confirmation.

Paul, on the other hand, was ready to go preach in Asia. The region was ripe, and the timing felt perfect. But the Holy Spirit said no. Imagine that, preaching the gospel is a noble thing, yet God stopped him. 

Why? Because God had something better—Macedonia. The “better” was waiting beyond the “good.” That’s the tension most of us face: when the good thing is not the God thing, and it takes wisdom, not excitement, to know the difference.

Startups fail every year not just from bad ideas, but from misaligned ideas. Founders rush into trends that look hot, but lack personal conviction or divine direction. They choose Tarshish over Nineveh. 

But the founders who wait, pray, test the idea, and move in obedience, even when it’s hard tend to build companies that last. Why? Because they moved with clarity, not hype and clarity comes from vision, not vibes.

The problem is, distractions don’t look like distractions. They look like answers to prayer. They stroke your ego. They give you immediate rewards. But underneath, they quietly pull you away from your purpose. 

If Satan can’t destroy you, he’ll distract you. He’ll offer you a counterfeit. A version of your dream that’s easier, faster, and self-serving, and the moment you say yes, you drift from the assignment God gave you. It’s subtle, but deadly.

Life will always give you options. Open doors will always show up. But the real test of maturity is the ability to discern, not just decide. Is this God or is this just good? 

Can you pause before jumping? Can you say no to a door that looks perfect because deep down, you know it will cost you more than it’s worth Discernment is how we win. Obedience is how we stay aligned. Everything else is noise.

So if you’re in a season of decision, don’t just chase the open door. Ask God, “Did You open this?” Sit with it. Pray about it. Fast if you must. Don’t be moved by emotions or excitement. Be led by conviction. Because in the end, success is not about how many doors you walk through. It’s about walking through the right ones.

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