--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I used to think God guided us by opening…" description: "\"I used to think God guided us by opening and closing doors, but now I know sometimes God wants us to kick some doors down.\" — Bob Goff" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ae/bob-goff-1182_closing_i-used-to-think-god-guided-us-by-opening_2386076.png" --- # I used to think God guided us by opening and closing… ![“I used to think God guided us by opening and closing doors, but now I know sometimes God wants us to kick some doors down.” quote by Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ae/bob-goff-1182_closing_i-used-to-think-god-guided-us-by-opening_2386076.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ae/bob-goff-1182_closing_i-used-to-think-god-guided-us-by-opening_2386076.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ae/bob-goff-1182_closing_i-used-to-think-god-guided-us-by-opening_2386076.png) > “I used to think God guided us by opening and closing doors, but now I know sometimes God wants us to kick some doors down.” [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. God may not just open opportunities but also push us to act boldly when needed. **In simple terms:** God sometimes pushes us to act. Key Takeaway Embrace bold action when doors stay closed. Themes faith action courage Mood determined hopeful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career change - personal growth - spiritual crisis - overcoming obstacles Key Concepts divine will agency risk Questions to Reflect On - When have you felt forced to act? - What risks are worth taking? A Different Perspective Bold moves can backfire without preparation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Closing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closing/) [Closing doors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closing-doors/) [Door](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/door/) [Doors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doors/) [God Guided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-guided-949126/) [God Wants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-wants/) [Guided Opening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guided-opening-5926199/) [Kick Doors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kick-doors-2552862/) [Kicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kicks/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Opening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opening/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want u](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-u/) ## Related quotes > [Democracies die behind closed doors. . . . When government begins closing doors, it selectively controls information rightfully belonging to the people. Selective information is misinformation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-keith/democracies-die-behind-closed-doors-when-government-begins-closing/) [Damon Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-keith/) > [“We are so used to the notion of our own inevitability as life’s dominant species that it is hard to grasp that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/we-are-so-used-to-the-notion-of-our-own-inevitability-as-life-s/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [I just don't like closing doors. I can't do it psychologically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asher-keddie/i-just-don-t-like-closing-doors-i-can-t-do-it-psychologically/) [Asher Keddie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asher-keddie/) > [ He \[the cat\] liked to peep into the refrigerator and risk having his head shut in by the closing door. He also climbed to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/he-the-cat-liked-to-peep-into-the-refrigerator-and-risk-having-his/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [Family businesses that have been around for generations are suddenly closing their doors, and while I'm not comparing my situation or my family's situations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexi-giannoulias/family-businesses-that-have-been-around-for-generations-are-suddenly/) [Alexi Giannoulias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexi-giannoulias/) > [Instead of closing our eyes and bowing our heads, sometimes God wants us to keep our eyes open for people in need, do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/instead-of-closing-our-eyes-and-bowing-our-heads-sometimes-god-wants/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [When God's leading and directing, you don't have to kick the doors open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-camp/when-god-s-leading-and-directing-you-don-t-have-to-kick-the-doors-open/) [Jeremy Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-camp/) > [Im a go getta gettin my fly young man on. lean like a pimp but I do stand on, my own two, grown too,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ne-yo/im-a-go-getta-gettin-my-fly-young-man-on-lean-like-a-pimp-but-i-do/) [Ne-yo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ne-yo/) > [No trooper, no special forces operative wants to sit behind a desk. We joined up to kick some doors down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ant-middleton/no-trooper-no-special-forces-operative-wants-to-sit-behind-a-desk-we/) [Ant Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ant-middleton/) > [“If you support the oppressed and prevent the oppressor from being unfair, then know that God guided you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaran-ihsan-salih/if-you-support-the-oppressed-and-prevent-the-oppressor-from-being/) [Kamaran Ihsan Salih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaran-ihsan-salih/) > [If you are not guided by God, you will be guided by something or someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-liddell/if-you-are-not-guided-by-god-you-will-be-guided-by-something-or/) [Eric Liddell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-liddell/) > [The power of prayer and faith in God is something that has guided so many of us in good times and bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/the-power-of-prayer-and-faith-in-god-is-something-that-has-guided-so/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [God guided me to America and gave me a good job. But he also gave me a heart so I would look back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manute-bol/god-guided-me-to-america-and-gave-me-a-good-job-but-he-also-gave-me-a/) [Manute Bol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manute-bol/) > [Democracies die behind closed doors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-keith/democracies-die-behind-closed-doors/) [Damon Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-keith/) > [Nothing in life has happened to you, it's happened FOR You!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/nothing-in-life-has-happened-to-you-it-s-happened-for-you/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) ## More by Bob Goff > [I used to think I could shape the circumstances around me, but now I know Jesus uses circumstances to shape me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-i-could-shape-the-circumstances-around-me-but-now-i/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Next to grace, I bet God thinks making us need each other was one of His best ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/next-to-grace-i-bet-god-thinks-making-us-need-each-other-was-one-of/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [The battle for our hearts is fought on the pages of our calendar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/the-battle-for-our-hearts-is-fought-on-the-pages-of-our-calendar/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [If we pick recognition over influence we'll be known for all the wrong stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/if-we-pick-recognition-over-influence-we-ll-be-known-for-all-the/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [“As I sit on my island, it becomes clears that we need to stop plotting the course and instead just land the plane on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/as-i-sit-on-my-island-it-becomes-clears-that-we-need-to-stop-plotting/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [“You become like the people you hang around, and to a great degree, you end up going wherever they’re headed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/you-become-like-the-people-you-hang-around-and-to-a-great-degree-you/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [The way we love people we disagree with is the best evidence of what we really believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/the-way-we-love-people-we-disagree-with-is-the-best-evidence-of-what/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [No book is a chapter, no chapter tells the whole story, no mistake defines who we are. Hope makes our lives page turners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/no-book-is-a-chapter-no-chapter-tells-the-whole-story-no-mistake/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Every time we see people as ordinary, we turn the wine back into water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/every-time-we-see-people-as-ordinary-we-turn-the-wine-back-into-water/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Faith isn't figuring out what we're able to do, it's deciding what we're going to do - even when we think we can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/faith-isn-t-figuring-out-what-we-re-able-to-do-it-s-deciding-what-we/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [I'm trying to surround myself during my life with the eight people I'd surround my bed with on my death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-m-trying-to-surround-myself-during-my-life-with-the-eight-people-i/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Most of our decisions are driven by either love or fear. Figure out who's doing the talking, then decide what you'll do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/most-of-our-decisions-are-driven-by-either-love-or-fear-figure-out/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Jesus lets us be real with our life and our faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/jesus-lets-us-be-real-with-our-life-and-our-faith/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [I used to think being loved was the greatest thing to think about, but now I know love is never satisfied just thinking about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-being-loved-was-the-greatest-thing-to-think-about-but/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Don't let uncertainty talk you into pursuing a backup plan instead of your purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/don-t-let-uncertainty-talk-you-into-pursuing-a-backup-plan-instead-of/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) [Explore all 277 Bob Goff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) ## More Closing quotes > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [It lies around us like a cloud- A world we do not see; Yet the sweet closing of an eye May bring us there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/it-lies-around-us-like-a-cloud-a-world-we-do-not-see-yet-the-sweet/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [I won't be managing the Mets. I am closing the door on managing the Mets and probably everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-won-t-be-managing-the-mets-i-am-closing-the-door-on-managing-the/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [He thought about his people without sentimentalily, with a strick closing of his accounts with life, beginning to understand how much he really loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/he-thought-about-his-people-without-sentimentalily-with-a-strick/) [Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [The idea that God resides in the unknown is what philosophers call the God of the gaps. And we have this thing called science,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-idea-that-god-resides-in-the-unknown-is-what-philosophers-call/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [My walls are closing in, and I'm still wondering how.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/my-walls-are-closing-in-and-i-m-still-wondering-how/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) > [As an actor, you know that every act has a closing curtain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/as-an-actor-you-know-that-every-act-has-a-closing-curtain/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > [For the first time in longer than I can remember, I feel peaceful. Not happy. Not sad. Not anxious. Not horny. Just all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/for-the-first-time-in-longer-than-i-can-remember-i-feel-peaceful-not/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Don´t be unnecessarily burdened by the past. Go on closing the chapters that you have read; there is no need to go back again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/don-t-be-unnecessarily-burdened-by-the-past-go-on-closing-the/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [In my head, at least, the business of spinning stories has no closing time. Twists in my characters' lives, glimpses of their secrets, obstacles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/in-my-head-at-least-the-business-of-spinning-stories-has-no-closing/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [I always ask two questions when we are closing in on a deal: What currency are we dealing in and how many people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-pardew/i-always-ask-two-questions-when-we-are-closing-in-on-a-deal-what/) [Alan Pardew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-pardew/) > [Ignorantly is how we all fall in love; for it is a kind of fall. Closing our eyes, we leap from that cliff in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/ignorantly-is-how-we-all-fall-in-love-for-it-is-a-kind-of-fall/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [During the 1970s and 1980s, the popular television soap opera As The World Turns portrayed sunrise during the opening credits and sunset during the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/during-the-1970s-and-1980s-the-popular-television-soap-opera-as-the/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“There’s an air of things closing down. Teachers wear shorts and T-shirts to class. They show movies while they clean out their desks. Nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/there-s-an-air-of-things-closing-down-teachers-wear-shorts-and-t/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) [Browse all 543 Closing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I used to think God guided us by opening and closing doors, but now I know sometimes God wants us to kick some doors down.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bob Goff" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-god-guided-us-by-opening-and-closing-doors-but-now-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Closing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-god-guided-us-by-opening-and-closing-doors-but-now-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ae/bob-goff-1182_closing_i-used-to-think-god-guided-us-by-opening_2386076.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ae/bob-goff-1182_closing_i-used-to-think-god-guided-us-by-opening_2386076.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ae/bob-goff-1182_closing_i-used-to-think-god-guided-us-by-opening_2386076.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I used to think God guided us by opening and closing doors, but now I know sometimes God wants us to kick…” — Bob Goff", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bob Goff", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I used to think God guided...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-god-guided-us-by-opening-and-closing-doors-but-now-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-god-guided-us-by-opening-and-closing-doors-but-now-i/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```