God’s Open Doors: Overcoming Fear and Waiting

So many of us struggle with interpreting silence, especially when we’re waiting for a response or clarity. Our minds quickly fill the gaps with worst-case scenarios, and we become anxious, imagining things that aren’t even real. This tendency isn’t just a modern problem—it’s something even the Apostle Paul experienced. When he didn’t hear from Titus, Paul’s mind raced with worry, and he left an open door in Troas because he had no peace. The enemy often uses these moments of uncertainty to distract us from the opportunities God has placed right in front of us.

There’s a reason the enemy shows up at the threshold of significant moments in our lives. The presence of opposition is often a sign that what’s on the other side of the door is deeply important. The greater the opportunity, the greater the resistance. God has unique assignments for each of us, and the enemy’s strategy is to fill our minds with fear, insecurity, and doubt—anything to keep us from stepping through the doors God opens.

Sometimes, the battles we face aren’t about external circumstances but the internal stories we tell ourselves. The enemy can’t close the doors God opens, but he can try to convince us to walk away from them by sowing confusion and fear in our hearts. Paul’s story reminds us that even when we feel overwhelmed by uncertainty, God is already at work behind the scenes. The resolution we’re waiting for may already be on its way, even if we can’t see it yet.

When Paul finally received word from Titus, he realized that all his anxiety had been for nothing—God had already worked things out. This is a powerful reminder that restoration, hope, and joy are coming, even if we’re still waiting for the evidence. The real battle is often within our own minds, not in our circumstances. In moments of silence and uncertainty, we’re invited to be still before God, trusting that He is working all things together for our good, even when we can’t see it.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The enemy exploits our tendency to misinterpret silence, filling our minds with fear and false narratives. When we don’t have answers, we often imagine the worst, which can cause us to miss the opportunities God has placed before us. Recognizing this pattern is the first step toward breaking its power over our lives. [00:27]
• 2. The presence of opposition at the threshold of new opportunities is not a sign to turn back, but an indication of the significance of what lies ahead. The enemy stands at the door because what’s on the other side matters deeply to God and to us. The size of the resistance often matches the importance of the assignment. [02:13]
• 3. Our greatest battles are often internal, not external. While we may face conflicts and challenges on the outside, it’s the fears and doubts within that most often keep us from moving forward. Learning to discern the difference between external obstacles and internal anxieties is crucial for spiritual growth. [07:52]
• 4. God is already working out solutions to the problems that trouble us, even when we can’t see any evidence yet. Like Paul, we may spend months worrying about outcomes that God has already resolved. Faith means trusting God’s unseen work and refusing to let anxiety dictate our decisions. [10:04]
• 5. Restoration, hope, and joy are on the way, even if we’re still waiting for the visible signs. The arrival of “Titus” in our lives—God’s answer to our prayers—often comes after a season of uncertainty and fear. In the meantime, we are called to be still, to trust, and to let God comfort our troubled hearts. [09:19]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:27] - Struggling to Interpret Silence
• [00:54] - Paul’s Anxiety and Missed Opportunity
• [01:32] - The Enemy’s Strategy: Using the Past
• [02:13] - Why There’s an Enemy at the Door
• [02:49] - Personal Story: Breaking Down Before Breakthrough
• [03:30] - The Weight of What’s Ahead
• [04:13] - The Enemy Signals Importance
• [04:54] - The Size of the Enemy and the Assignment
• [05:44] - The Enemy Can’t Close God’s Door
• [06:20] - Stressing Over What God Has Already Handled
• [07:04] - The Stories We Tell Ourselves
• [07:52] - The Real Battle: Fears Within
• [08:30] - Waiting in Uncertainty
• [09:19] - Restoration and Joy Are Coming
• [10:04] - Standing Before an Open Door
• [10:30] - Being Still in God’s Presence

Bible Reading

2 Corinthians 2:12-13; 2 Corinthians 7:5-7 (ESV) —
> 2 Corinthians 2:12-13
> "When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia."

> 2 Corinthians 7:5-7
> "For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more."

Observation Questions

1. According to 2 Corinthians 2:12-13, what was Paul’s emotional state when he didn’t find Titus in Troas? What did he decide to do as a result?
2. In 2 Corinthians 7:5, Paul describes two types of struggles he faced. What were they, and how did he distinguish between them?
3. When Titus finally arrived, what impact did his presence and message have on Paul? (2 Corinthians 7:6-7)
4. In the sermon, what does the pastor say is the enemy’s strategy when we are waiting for answers or clarity? [00:54]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Paul left an open door in Troas just because he didn’t find Titus? What does this reveal about how internal anxieties can affect our decisions? [00:54]
2. The sermon says, “The enemy can’t close the doors God opens, but he can try to convince us to walk away from them by sowing confusion and fear in our hearts.” How does this idea challenge the way we interpret obstacles or silence in our lives? [05:44]
3. Paul talks about “fighting without and fear within.” Why might the “fears within” be more dangerous or limiting than the external conflicts? [07:52]
4. When Paul finally hears from Titus, he realizes his anxiety was unnecessary. What does this teach us about God’s timing and the stories we tell ourselves during seasons of uncertainty? [10:04]

Application Questions

1. The pastor shared how quickly he imagines worst-case scenarios when someone doesn’t respond to his texts. Can you relate to this? What’s one recent example where you filled in the silence with fear or negative assumptions? [00:27]
2. Think about a time when you felt opposition or resistance right before a big opportunity or decision. Did you see it as a sign to turn back, or could it have been a sign of the importance of what was ahead? How might you view opposition differently now? [02:13]
3. The sermon says, “The enemy uses the door of what you don’t know to fill your mind with hypothetical scenarios that cause your heart to close.” What are some “doors” in your life right now where uncertainty is making you anxious or hesitant? [05:44]
4. Paul’s greatest battle was not the external conflicts but the “fears within.” What are some internal stories or fears that have kept you from stepping into something God might be calling you to? [07:52]
5. The pastor said, “God is already working out solutions to the problems that trouble us, even when we can’t see any evidence yet.” Is there a situation in your life where you need to trust that God is working behind the scenes? What would it look like to act in faith rather than anxiety? [10:04]
6. When restoration, hope, or joy finally comes, it often reveals that our anxiety was unnecessary. How can you remind yourself of this truth the next time you’re waiting for an answer or breakthrough? [09:19]
7. The sermon ends with an invitation to “be still in the presence of God.” What practical steps can you take this week to quiet your mind and trust God in the midst of uncertainty? [10:30]