“Access denied.” The scanner displayed the words of doom. The man scanned our badges again.

“Access denied.” Apparently the engineering conference’s digital contraption didn’t realize that my dad was the teacher for the classroom we were trying to enter.

I looked at the man, then Dad, and back at the man again. I spoke first.

“He’s the teacher of the class,” I reassured the class attendant.

The man sized us up and then allowed us entry into the room. Apparently my dad didn’t register for his own class since he didn’t have to pay to attend. But the faith of the attendant allowed us entry.

Have you ever tried to pursue your dreams and somewhere along the way, an unforgiving message flashed before you: “Access denied”?

I had the dream of working with a particular ministry, and one summer I applied to be a counselor at their youth camps. “Access denied.” My application wasn’t approved. Since I had prayed about applying and knew that God wanted me to, I was stumped when I couldn’t work at the camp. What did God want me to do? Apparently, He had something different in mind.

About ten years later, my family started our own ministry, a Bible teaching ministry and publishing company. The closed door I encountered only meant that God was going to open a door somewhere else. And by God’s grace, doors continue to open.

What is your dream? If you encounter some closed doors along the way, don’t despair. God may be redirecting your path. Stay close to Him so you can hear His voice and follow His lead. Keep doing what you know to do to pursue the dream, but place your dream in God’s hands. Have faith in Him—God may have plans for you that are beyond your wildest dreams, and He wants you to follow Him to achieve them. When He wants something to happen, it will happen. And it will have all His wisdom, power, and love backing it up, as long as we follow His lead and cooperate with His work in us and through us.

So keep dreaming, keep working, and don’t give up. God creates amazing adventures for His children, and He writes the best stories. Let Him write yours, and see what happens.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.  Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV

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Katy Kauffman is an award-winning author and a co-founder of Lighthouse Bible Studies, a ministry which seeks to connect people to God through His Word. She has taught the Bible to women and teens, and has two published Bible studies for women, 2 Timothy: Winning the Victory and Faith, Courage, and Victory. Her heart’s desire is for people to know and love God, understand the richness of His Word, and fulfill His plan for their lives. Katy is also an editor for Refresh Bible Study Magazine and the designer of Broken but Priceless: The Magazine. Check out Katy’s blog, Life with God, and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

© 2016 Gallagher’s Pen, Ronald L. Gallagher, Ed.S.  All rights reserved.

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