Ecumenical Pilgrimage Brings Communities Together
October 1, 2025
In his regular column Fr Alvan Ibeh discusses how when God closes a door, it is never to leave us hopeless, but to redirect us towards a greater plan we cannot yet see.
“God is faithful; thank you so much for everything, Father Alvan. Be sure to use my story to encourage someone! Thanks so much.”
This was the message I received from a young woman who was once part of my parish community. Her testimony has deepened my conviction that there is power in prayer, and that when God closes a door, He always opens another – often a better one. With her permission, I now share her story.
“Mirian” (not her real name) was a migrant living in the UK. She lost her job and went for months without work. With a young son to care for, bills to pay, and a relationship under strain, her mental health also began to suffer. I often wondered how she managed to keep going. The answer, I believe, was her faith. Even at her lowest point, when she felt tempted to give up on life, she held on, encouraged by prayer and the assurance that God had not abandoned her.
Yet things grew worse. After much waiting and disappointment, she received a letter from the Home Office demanding that she either find work or leave the country. Distraught, she phoned me straightaway. We prayed together, but Mirian decided to go further. She committed herself to three days of prayer and fasting without food, from 30 July to 1 August, and asked me to accompany her spiritually in this effort.
I encouraged her, reminding her that God would not allow her tears to be wasted. She remained steadfast, even though she only had nine days left to secure a job and stay in the UK. In her own words: “If God doesn’t answer my prayers the way I have prayed for, you will see us come and say goodbye before we leave the country. But we are still hoping for a miracle.”
I reassured her: “Never give up. I have seen God act at the last hour before. Let His will be done.”
On 15 August, Mirian sent me a message: “Hello Father Alvan, you said it, Father. God bless you.” She soon called to explain that, although her prayer had not been answered as she expected, God had answered in a different way. She would not be staying in the UK after all – she was moving to Canada, where she has since been reunited with her mother, thanks to support from family and friends.
Mirian had prayed for a new job in Britain. Instead, God was saying: “No, my daughter. I have a better plan. I will close this door, but another – far greater – will open.”
So, what about you? Are you ready to give up because you think a door has closed? Remember: God does not close a door to leave us stranded or hopeless. He closes doors to redirect us towards something greater, something we cannot yet see.
The Lord, who knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10), sees what lies beyond every doorway. When a door closes, it is an invitation to trust Him more deeply, to shift our gaze from what we think we have lost to what He is preparing for us. Closed doors teach patience, strengthen faith, and refine character.
So, when you encounter a closed door, do not despair. Pray. Wait. Trust. For the One who holds the keys of David (Revelation 3:7) – who opens and no one can shut, and shuts and no one can open – is guiding your steps with love.
A closed door is never the end of the story. It is simply the start of a new chapter; a new beginning.
Shalom.
