When a dream falls apart or a door you prayed would open suddenly closes, it can leave you wondering what God is doing. Maybe you've worked toward a particular career, relationship, opportunity, or ministry, only to hear “no,” “wait,” or nothing at all. Closed doors can feel like rejection, but what if God is using them as redirection? Proverbs 16:9 reminds us that while we make plans, the Lord ultimately establishes our steps.

Surrendering our plans to God isn't always easy, especially when we genuinely believe we've found the path we were meant to take. But God's “no” doesn't mean He has abandoned us. Sometimes He is protecting us, sometimes He is preparing us for something different, and sometimes we may never know why a particular door closed. The invitation is to trust the Author of our story, release our grip on the outcome, and pray, “Your will be done.”

Highlights
Why God's closed doors don't necessarily mean rejection
Learning to trust God when your plans don't unfold as expected
How a “no” from God can become a redirection or protection
The challenge of wanting God's will more than our own plans
Finding peace when you're facing a “not yet” or a season of waiting
How to surrender specific outcomes and remain open to God's leading
Three questions to help you discern where God may be leading next

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Full Transcript Below:

When God, the Author, Rewrites Your Plans

By Hannah Benson

Bible Reading:
“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9 ESV).

I just returned from living in the beautiful state of Tennessee for over 4 weeks, working on a feature film project. As I’ve been processing all the Lord has done, I’ve reflected on this verse in Proverbs in particular.

When I was a little girl, it was my dream to serve the Lord through media missions.

As a young woman, how is that dream now a reality?

Only God.

The truth is, we all have dreams, hopes, and plans. There is nothing wrong with making plans and hoping for something. In fact, God often places these desires in our hearts.

What about when our plans fall through? When we feel like we’re praying, begging for a breakthrough, but heaven seems silent, or worse yet, God says no?

There have been times in my life when I found myself on my knees praying for something, only for the door to slam shut. When we have our plans, sometimes we can question why.

Why would God withhold something good from us?

I can’t claim to know God’s reasons. After all, His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-11). Sometimes, rejection is our protection.

I have often found in my life that God will open doors that will draw me closer to Him and will bring Him the most glory. When He withholds something, it could simply be that I long for that thing more than I long for the will of the Lord to be done.

That’s convicting.

I want to desire God’s will far more than I desire anything else.

That’s hard.

When Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray in Matthew 6, He tells them to start by praying “Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (v. 9, 10 ESV).

Notice the part about “your will be done.” God’s will is perfect. We should have a heart that desires to see God’s perfect will unfold here on earth as it does in heaven. We know God has good plans for us that are far better than anything we could dream or even begin to hope for.

It’s one thing to agree with our lips, but quite another to truly desire in our hearts when God’s will isn’t always ours.

What about when God says no?

When God allows a door to quietly close?

I wish I could say it’s easy to accept those no’s, but I don’t know that it ever gets easier.

When we receive a no from God, sometimes, we may never understand why. Other times, we’ll look back and realize it was His protection or He had different plans that may’ve never unfolded otherwise.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

It can be incredibly difficult when our plans fall apart, when a dream begins to fade, or when a door we’ve knocked on stays firmly locked. It’s okay to grieve and to take our pain to Jesus. In fact, He wants us to share everything on our hearts with Him.

But a closed door, a changed plan, or a dream that feels dead isn’t a sign of God’s abandonment. Instead, it’s proof of God, the Author’s hand over each of our lives, writing in each moment, caring for us so deeply as He sketches out all the details. Think about that.

He cares about us so deeply that He’ll tell us no, shut a door, or change our plans.

As I reflect on my own life, I can see the doors God has closed and others He has flung wide open. If it weren’t for the “no’s” of the past, I don’t think I would’ve received or appreciated all the “yeses” of today. That doesn’t mean there aren’t “nos,” “not yets,” or “waits” in this current season.

But when there are, I want to remember that every closed door isn’t a rejection but a redirection, a beautiful gift from God.

His plans aren’t always ours. His thoughts are often far beyond what we could imagine.

And honestly?

Thank God.

If you are facing a closed door today, take some time to consider the following questions:
Are you gripping a specific outcome so tightly that you’re missing where the Lord may be leading you next?
Can you find peace in the truth that God’s "no" is an act of sovereign protection?
How can you shift your prayers today from "Lord, do things my way" to "Your will be done"?

Pray with me:

Dear Father, thank You that Your plans aren’t always mine. Thank You for every "no," for every time You tell me to wait, or when You whisper, “not yet.” Thank You for the times You shut doors just as much as when You open them. Please help me surrender to Your leading and release my plans to You. Lord, please don’t let me miss where You are calling me next. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

When a dream falls apart or a door you prayed would open suddenly closes, it can leave you wondering what God is doing. Maybe you've worked toward a particular career, relationship, opportunity, or ministry, only to hear &ldquo;no,&rdquo; &ldquo;wait,&rdquo; or nothing at all. Closed doors can feel like rejection, but what if God is using them as redirection? Proverbs 16:9 reminds us that while we make plans, the Lord ultimately establishes our steps.
Surrendering our plans to God isn't always easy, especially when we genuinely believe we've found the path we were meant to take. But God's &ldquo;no&rdquo; doesn't mean He has abandoned us. Sometimes He is protecting us, sometimes He is preparing us for something different, and sometimes we may never know why a particular door closed. The invitation is to trust the Author of our story, release our grip on the outcome, and pray, &ldquo;Your will be done.&rdquo;
Highlights
<ul data-start="900" data-end="1353" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">
<li data-section-id="1bvrfzp" data-start="900" data-end="957">Why God's closed doors don't necessarily mean rejection</li>
<li data-section-id="gk606y" data-start="958" data-end="1022">Learning to trust God when your plans don't unfold as expected</li>
<li data-section-id="np4d35" data-start="1023" data-end="1083">How a &ldquo;no&rdquo; from God can become a redirection or protection</li>
<li data-section-id="19lh67d" data-start="1084" data-end="1145">The challenge of wanting God's will more than our own plans</li>
<li data-section-id="13374ey" data-start="1146" data-end="1215">Finding peace when you're facing a &ldquo;not yet&rdquo; or a season of waiting</li>
<li data-section-id="15l24i0" data-start="1216" data-end="1285">How to surrender specific outcomes and remain open to God's leading</li>
<li data-section-id="1k0haha" data-start="1286" data-end="1353" data-is-last-node="">Three questions to help you discern where God may be leading next</li>
</ul>
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Sign up at <a href="https://newsletters.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword">LifeAudio.com/thegoodword</a>
Do you want to listen ad-free?
When you join&nbsp;Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors&mdash;resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/subscribe/?utm_source=subscribe_page&amp;utm_medium=YDBV&amp;utm_campaign=YDBV_PLUS">Sign Up Today!</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
When God, the Author, Rewrites Your Plans
By Hannah Benson
Bible Reading: &ldquo;The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps&rdquo; (Proverbs 16:9 ESV).
I just returned from living in the beautiful state of Tennessee for over 4 weeks, working on a feature film project. As I&rsquo;ve been processing all the Lord has done, I&rsquo;ve reflected on this verse in Proverbs in particular.
When I was a little girl, it was my dream to serve the Lord through media missions.
As a young woman, how is that dream now a reality?
Only God.
The truth is, we all have dreams, hopes, and plans. There is nothing wrong with making plans and hoping for something. In fact, God often places these desires in our hearts.
What about when our plans fall through? When we feel like we&rsquo;re praying, begging for a breakthrough, but heaven seems silent, or worse yet,&nbsp;God says no?
There have been times in my life when I found myself on my knees praying for something, only for the door to slam shut. When we have our plans, sometimes we can question&nbsp;why.
Why&nbsp;would God withhold something good from us?
I can&rsquo;t claim to know God&rsquo;s reasons. After all, His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-11). Sometimes, rejection is our protection.
I have often found in my life that God will open doors that will draw me closer to Him and will bring Him the most glory. When He withholds something, it could simply be that I long for that thing more than I long for the will of the Lord to be done.
That&rsquo;s convicting.
I want to desire God&rsquo;s will far more than I desire anything else.
That&rsquo;s hard.
When Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray in Matthew 6, He tells them to start by praying &ldquo;Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven&rdquo; (v. 9, 10 ESV).
Notice the part about &ldquo;your will be done.&rdquo; God&rsquo;s will is perfect. We should have a heart that desires to see God&rsquo;s perfect will unfold here on earth as it does in heaven. We know God has good plans for us that are far better than anything we could dream or even begin to hope for.
It&rsquo;s one thing to agree with our lips, but quite another to truly desire in our hearts when God&rsquo;s will isn&rsquo;t always ours.
What about when God says no?
When God allows a door to quietly close?
I wish I could say it&rsquo;s easy to accept those no&rsquo;s, but I don&rsquo;t know that it ever gets easier.
When we receive a no from God, sometimes, we may never understand why. Other times, we&rsquo;ll look back and realize it was His protection or He had different plans that may&rsquo;ve never unfolded otherwise.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
It can be incredibly difficult when our plans fall apart, when a dream begins to fade, or when a door we&rsquo;ve knocked on stays firmly locked. It&rsquo;s okay to grieve and to take our pain to Jesus. In fact, He wants us to share everything on our hearts with Him.
But a closed door, a changed plan, or a dream that feels dead isn&rsquo;t a sign of God&rsquo;s abandonment. Instead, it&rsquo;s proof of God, the Author&rsquo;s hand over each of our lives, writing in each moment, caring for us so deeply as He sketches out all the details. Think about that.
He cares about us so deeply that He&rsquo;ll tell us no, shut a door, or change our plans.
As I reflect on my own life, I can see the doors God has closed and others He has flung wide open. If it weren&rsquo;t for the &ldquo;no&rsquo;s&rdquo; of the past, I don&rsquo;t think I would&rsquo;ve received or appreciated all the &ldquo;yeses&rdquo; of today. That doesn&rsquo;t mean there aren&rsquo;t &ldquo;nos,&rdquo; &ldquo;not yets,&rdquo; or &ldquo;waits&rdquo; in this current season.
But when there are, I want to remember that every closed door isn&rsquo;t a rejection but a redirection, a beautiful gift from God.
His plans aren&rsquo;t always ours. His thoughts are often far beyond what we could imagine.
And honestly?
Thank God.
If you are facing a closed door today, take some time to consider the following questions:
<ol>
<li aria-level="1">Are you gripping a specific outcome so tightly that you&rsquo;re missing where the Lord may be leading you next?</li>
<li aria-level="1">Can you find peace in the truth that God&rsquo;s "no" is an act of sovereign protection?</li>
<li aria-level="1">How can you shift your prayers today from "Lord, do things my way" to "Your will be done"?</li>
</ol>
Pray with me:
Dear Father, thank You that Your plans aren&rsquo;t always mine. Thank You for every "no," for every time You tell me to wait, or when You whisper, &ldquo;not yet.&rdquo; Thank You for the times You shut doors just as much as when You open them. Please help me surrender to Your leading and release my plans to You. Lord, please don&rsquo;t let me miss where You are calling me next. In Jesus&rsquo; Name, Amen.

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.

Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:

☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It)
☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment
☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life
☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life
☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church
☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer
☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation
☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year

If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.
Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:
☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It) ☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment ☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life ☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life ☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church ☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer ☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation ☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year
If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/">https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.</a>

7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life.

The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

The Crosswalk Devotional

When God, the Author, Rewrites Your Plans

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/e6ae0c4b-1cdc-4cee-85d5-b4b000f02233/transcript