Unexpected Doors

After earning my degree in broadcast journalism, I worked a few journalism jobs in Phoenix and then moved home to Los Angeles to further pursue my career. I served California Pizza Kitchen pizza after fettuccine after strawberry lemonade while I submitted countless cover letters and résumés in hopes of chasing my dreams of success.

Months passed. Not one door opened. Nobody called. It felt like I was standing in a dark hallway, waiting for something, anything, to open up. Maybe you've felt that way too, sister. I was tempted to start kicking doors in. I wanted to be on the road to success.

Months rolled by and I received an unexpected call—an invitation out of the blue to do full-time ministry with high school girls.

It is difficult to say what I would have chosen had I received the phone call into ministry while working a job in journalism that I liked rather than waiting tables. It is easy now to look back and see that the Holy Spirit kept those journalism job doors shut.

We all have seasons when we stand in that hallway. It is nearly impossible to take heart in those seasons and think, “Well, nothing is going through because the Holy Spirit isn't in the mood.” That does not bring great solace in the seasons where nothing seems to give—in our waiting to enter into our vocation, waiting for children, waiting for the right house, the right job.

It reflects clearly twice in today’s first reading that the Holy Spirit prevents things that are not His will. He prevents us from going places we are not to go—only if we allow ourselves to be led, as Saints Paul and Timothy did. They did not force it; they let God be God and guide. They prayerfully trusted God to open the right doors and keep the wrong ones closed. He lovingly invites us to do the same.

There is a great plan at work. // @emwilssClick to tweet

Trust. Patience. Obedience. The doors will open at the right time. Even if we suffer and can't see it, there is a great plan at work.

Emily Wilson Hussem planned her whole life to become a sports reporter but turned out to be a Catholic musician and speaker at the hand of God. She lives out of her suitcase and travels across the world speaking to people of all ages. The heart of her ministry is offering encouragement to teen girls in search of their true identity, and she loves every second of it. She is the author of I Choose the Sky. You can find out more about her here.