Well… sometimes things don’t work out the way you want them to. Apparently, life didn’t get the memo that I had already decided how things were supposed to go. I recently applied for a job at my kids’ school, I really wanted. Helping children with special needs, being on the same schedule as my kiddos, it all sounded like a dream.
And then… I didn’t get the job.
Was I disappointed? Absolutely.
Did I briefly wonder why I wasn’t good enough? Of course. Because apparently that’s one of the first places our brains like to go when something doesn’t work out. But after the disappointment wore off a little, I started thinking about something important:
When one door closes, maybe check the other one. I tried; I put myself out there. I took a chance. Sometimes success isn’t getting exactly what you wanted. Sometimes success is having the courage to try in the first place.
My wonderful aunt reminded me of this when she told me a story about something similar that happened to her years ago.
She once really wanted a merchandising job. It paid well, sounded fun, and she had every reason to believe she was going to get it.
And of course, the job went to someone else.
And to make it even more frustrating, the person who got the job happened to be best friends with the department manager.
Needless to say, she was hurt and disappointed. She had prayed about the job and really wanted it.
Instead of sitting around thinking, well, I guess that’s it for me, she decided: “What do I have to lose now?” I LOVE that question.
She went straight to the editor of her community newspaper and said she wanted to write for the paper. She even brought a sample of her writing.
The editor told her there weren’t any openings.
So… another closed door… or so she thought!
But two weeks later, the editor called and had a job for her. Not only that but eventually became a Senior Staff Writer. And get this—she ended up making more money than she would have made in the merchandising job!
Then the economy crashed, the merchandising job disappeared, but her writing job continued. What a plot twist!
The job she was upset about not getting wasn’t actually the job she needed. God had something else in store. I think that’s something I need to remember right now, too.
Maybe I didn’t get the job at my kids’ school because there is something else waiting for me.
Maybe there’s another opportunity I haven’t even thought about yet.
Maybe I’ll look back six months from now and say, “Ohhh… THAT’S why that didn’t work out.”
Or maybe I’ll just continue applying for jobs and drinking entirely too much Dr. Pepper while I figure it out.
Either way, I’m trying not to let one “no” make me believe there won’t be a “yes” somewhere else.
Because sometimes we get so focused on the door that just closed that we forget to look around and see if there’s another one standing wide open.
So, if you’re dealing with a disappointment right now, I hope you remember this: You didn’t fail because you didn’t get the outcome you wanted!
You proved to yourself that you were willing to take a chance and that’s something to be proud of.
I’m going to keep trying. I’m going to keep looking. And I’m going to trust that if one opportunity wasn’t meant for me, maybe there’s a better one coming. Sometimes a closed door isn’t a dead end. Sometimes it’s just God saying, “Not that one, try this instead!”
And honestly…
I’m going to try to trust Him on that one.
Even if I have to complain a little first. 😂❤️
Amen to that Destany! I think we’ve all had those disappointments but GOD knows what we need and we may need to wait.
OMG!! You are a natural Dez!! I am beyond proud of you. This definitely is God using you to help others. I bet you too could write a book or two. I loved this blog and feel you are gifted in this area. You are a tool for helping others that might be feeling ‘Not good enough”!! You are truly Amazing.. Will be praying for that right door to be open for you Sweet Mama!! Love you to pieces.. 🥰😘💕🙏
Amen!! God works in mysterious ways! Sometimes I wish it wasn’t so mysterious, but He teaches patience in the waiting.
Oh thank you so much! That means a lot!! Who knows what the future holds! Thank you for the prayers, they are much appreciated. Love you too.