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Jan 03, 2026 06:00am

The Door Closed… But God Didn’t: Hope After Hurt

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The door slammed shut.

I’ve heard that sound a time or two in my life. It signified finality. The conversation—or whatever had been there—was over.

But it wasn’t over.

What continued were the hurt feelings, the animosity, the regret, the anger, and the bitterness.

Why couldn’t we have talked things out? Why couldn’t we have solved the issues instead of getting mad and storming away? Wasn’t there a better way?

There certainly was.

2 Corinthians 13:11–14
“Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
12 Greet each other with a sacred kiss. 13 All of God’s people here send you their greetings.
14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

Paul was finishing yet another letter to the church at Corinth about their disobedience and sinful lifestyles. They weren’t treating each other well, they were allowing the influence of the world to enter the church, and they were believing every person who claimed to be of the Lord even though their messages contradicted Scripture.

As he ended his letter, Paul could have told them he was done with them, that there was no hope for them, and that he never wanted to see or hear from them again. He could have turned his back on them and ended his letter like a door slamming shut.

But he didn’t. Instead, he told them that if they followed the Lord as he had instructed, they would be joyful and grow in their spiritual life—maturing and understanding the truth. They would encourage one another as they worked within the church to equip believers to go and make disciples. They would have peace and harmony if they worked out their problems and issues. And because they were seeking the truth and desired to obey the Lord, He would be with them.

That’s how Paul chose to end his letter. Why? Because he loved them. He knew they were worth investing in. Discipleship is messy, but Paul was committed to seeing them through.

I don’t know what door has been slammed in your face, but I know the hurt that comes from it. Let me encourage you today—if you are still breathing, God isn’t finished with you. His plan to redeem the people of this world is still in motion, and He still has much for you to do.

Spend some time alone with the Lord today. Pray that He will show you where and how He wants to use you for His Kingdom. It doesn’t always look like we thought it would. I can attest to that—can you?

Don’t hold on to the anger and bitterness of that slamming door. The Lord allowed it to close for a reason. Follow Him and you’ll find joy, peace, and purpose.

Want to know more about Jesus and what it looks like to follow Him? Go to follow.lifeword.org to use our free discipleship tool! Also in Spanish at follow.lifeword.org/spanish.