3. God is good, even as the storm clouds mount.

5. Do difficult circumstances necessarily mean we’ve fallen out of step with God’s Spirit and that God is somehow communicating His displeasure with us?

6. Sometimes a circumstance appears like a closing door because:
it is a test from the Lord.
we are reaping something that we’ve sowed and call us to repentance.
It is a direct attack by the enemy.
It is rooted in persecution that we should endure with God's grace.
Sometimes a circumstance seems like an opening door because “wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it” (Matthew 7:13).

7. “Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” (Acts 16:6-10)  

8. APPLICATIONS
we ought to pay increased attention to the circumstances of our lives, remaining firm in our knowledge of God’s goodness, might and majesty.
we ought to practice discernment in relation to our circumstances, asking exactly what God might be communicating through circumstances.
we ought to discern the direction the door is moving, as well as its reason for moving.
we ought to look for evidence outside of the circumstance that might provide confirmation of our interpretation.

9. Create a chart logging the various circumstances you encounter over the next week, recording your interpretation of these circumstances, and any confirmation that you receive in relation to your interpretation of your circumstances.

10. Might we each learn how to discern God’s voice to us through circumstances, correctly interpreting our circumstances and knowing the voice of God to us.