When the Doors Keep Closing

Shakila Barry
Feb 7
6 min read

—A Reflection on Delay, Disappointment, and Trusting God Anyway

Preface

Before you read…

I wrote this in real time—before the breakthrough, before the answers, before the wins.

I was still feeling every door close, still sitting in the tension of waiting, still choosing faith when nothing had visibly shifted yet. These words came from a place of honesty, not hindsight.

And then…God moved.

A shift came in the atmosphere suddenly, unmistakably, and in a way only He can orchestrate.

I’m sharing this post first because the waiting matters just as much as the win. The believing matters just as much as the breakthrough. And if you find yourself in a similar in-between space, I want you to know you’re not alone and you’re not wrong for trusting God even before you see the evidence.

The testimony is coming in the next blog. But this part of the story deserves to be told too.

Stay tuned. ✨

Sparkle Bestie,

Lately, I found myself feeling a little perturbed—caught off guard, honestly—as I started thinking about all the rejections, delays, and setbacks that seem to be piling up. And yes, I know I shouldn’t think this way… but hear me out. I’m human. And it gets to be too much at times.

I realized I was doing that thing I sometimes do—stacking the losses. It hasn't been just mental. It’s been physical too. Set back after set back. Opportunities flatlining.

That quiet blow to your confidence that looms when it feels like doors are slamming shut left and right.

Opportunities that felt like this was finally it. The work I had been pouring into—day into night, night into day—seemed like it was paying off. I had been building toward that moment with consistency and intensity… and then it just....well...it just flopped.

And Sparkle Bestie, I won’t lie—I didn’t take it on the chin like a champ.

At first, I told myself, “Maybe this is it for me." "Maybe I'm just doing too much."

I had to catch myself recently because I could feel the disappointment rising.

I started asking God, “How long?”

And then it hit me, something I already knew, but didn’t really want to accept:

This is a marathon, not a sprint.

And I don’t get a blueprint for this calling.

A symbolic illustration depicting the concept of life as a marathon, not a sprint, rendered in a minimalist, artistic style with a hopeful color palette. The composition should convey endurance and long-term perspective, perhaps showing a winding path stretching towards a distant, illuminated horizon.

What I’m doing is a road less traveled and it requires persistent faith.

God gently reminded me that gratitude isn’t reserved only for the breakthrough, it’s just as important in the setback.

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)

God knows the ultimate plan. His plans don’t fail—even when they don’t make sense to me in real time.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord… (Jeremiah 29:11)

So what feels like rejection is actually protection.

What feels like delay is alignment.

And every closed door is leading me closer to the window of opportunity designed specifically for me.

A symbolic, vibrant illustration depicting a grand, ornate window frame, bathed in radiant golden light, slowly swinging open to reveal a serene, breathtaking landscape of rolling hills under a clear blue sky. The style is realistic with a touch of ethereal magic, emphasizing soft gradients and a hopeful, optimistic color palette. The framing is a medium shot, focusing on the aperture of the opening.

So yes my grown woman pants are officially on.

I'm keeping my head held high.

I’m reminding my inner child to relax…affirming to myself:

What God has for me is for me, and it’s gonna be real good, I mean... really really good.

Besides, I can’t stop working at this point, it’s just who I am.

I can’t give up. I’ve come way too far.

Oftentimes, I feel misunderstood because not everyone can see the vision God placed inside me. But I have to keep my chin up and not let that stop me from believing.

Maybe what He’s preparing for me is so massive that the version of me I am right now still needs more refining to steward it well.

“To whom much is given, much will be required.” (Luke 12:48)

And I already know He’s up to something—because I’m not the same woman I was when I started this journey.

That version of me? Whew Chileee.

She got so down when things got hard.

She lost steam when she couldn’t see results.

She started strong and quit before the breakthrough.

But not this version.

This version of me has the audacity to dream big.

She knows that even when she can’t see the top of the staircase, God is guiding her one step at a time.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

That’s God deepening my trust.

Sharpening my faith.

Calling me into full alignment with His purpose.

So if I have to keep working a little longer…

Keep believing in the dark…

Keep facing closed doors…

Then it is what it is. Period.

Because one day, when that door of opportunity finally opens, and everything behind it is mine. Tailored. Fitted. And far beyond my highest imagination.

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…” (Ephesians 3:20)

Then I’ll keep my head up, my faith at 1000%, and I’ll keep going until one day I look around and say:

“Yeah… this...this right here... is beyond what I prayed for.”

Sparkle Bestie, don’t ever stop believing in you.

But more importantly, don’t ever stop believing in God.

God is not a man that He should lie. (Numbers 23:19)

His ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8–9)

A thousand years to Him are like a day. (2 Peter 3:8)

He can shift your entire life in the blink of an eye.

God is GOOD.

God is FAITHFUL.

So chin up, buttercup.

When doors close…

When people laugh at how big your dream is…

remember this:

First they laugh. Then… they copy.

Trailblazers don’t get blueprints—and that’s okay—because we have the ultimate compass.

He lives inside of us.

Say this with me: Lord, let your time be my clock, and let your will be my compass.

A symbolic illustration showcasing a diverse group of men and African American women from various ethnic backgrounds including African American, Asian, Caucasian, Hispanic, and Pacific Islander descent, engaged in a moment of shared prayer. Their faces are illuminated with expressions of deep peace and profound unity, rendered in a gentle, illustrative style with warm, muted colors. The composition emphasizes a sense of togetherness and spiritual connection.

Let’s Pray About It

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for being You.

Thank You for Your patience, Your faithfulness, and Your unfailing love.

Help us remember that when things don’t go our way, we are not being delayed.

We are being shaped for something greater.

Through every heartbreak and every setback, You are still working. You are shifting the atmosphere in our favor and aligning what is meant for us. Shaping a destiny so intentional, so precise, and so tailor-made.

When we grow weary, strengthen us to stand tall.

When doubt tries to creep in, remind us that rejection is protection and delay is not denial.

Continue to shape us and mold us for Your glory. Prepare us to steward what You have promised with humility, wisdom, and obedience. As we declare that our season of turnaround is coming, we do so with expectancy not passive hope, but diligent faith. We are working, believing, and trusting that everything You have spoken concerning our lives will come to pass.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Lean in Closer for a Moment:

I want you to know this: nothing you’ve walked through has been wasted. Not one closed door, not one loss, not one “not yet.” Every season has been shaping you for what will come at the right time.

When Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—casting their nets, because they were fishermen by trade. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” And immediately, they left their nets and followed Him. (Matthew 4:18–20)

Sparkle Bestie—this right here.

Jesus didn’t erase their past. He redeemed it. He took what they already knew—the patience, the discipline, the repetition, the long nights, the faith it took to cast nets without guarantees—and gave it eternal purpose. What once sustained them became the same language He used to call them into something greater.

And that’s how God works. When He calls us, He doesn’t discard our history—He reframes it. Every job, every transition, every season that felt disconnected or confusing is cumulative. God wastes nothing. He uses it all to prepare us for our Kingdom assignment.

So if your path has felt winding or delayed, take heart—it’s not too late, and you’re not off course. His timing is perfect, and when He calls you forward, everything you’ve walked through will suddenly make sense.

“In all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

*If this message spoke to you, take a moment today to sit with God—no long prayer required. Just a quiet, honest check-in. Write down what you’re trusting Him for.

Then remind yourself: delay is not denial and rejection is protection.

And if you feel led, share this with another Sparkle Bestie who might need a little encouragement today—or leave a comment and tell me where you are in your journey.

With love and a whole lot of sparkle,

Shakila B. ✨

P.S. Here’s a little love for your spirit—a song to lift your heart and a free printable you can download to stay inspired and encouraged. It’s filled with reminders of God’s sudden turnarounds, perfect for moments when you need some extra hope. ✨

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd24fpsF1Qw

CeCe Winans - Believe For It (Live) [Official Video]

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