A Closed Door that Finally Opened a New Window of Opportunity!

For those of you who have followed the saga of the "Ben's Country Woodshop" Page on this blog...you will remember that "Ben's Country Woodshop" was the result of a closed door and what a young man did to explore the possibilities of open windows that were available.  After months of rejection in his job search for a "real job", this determined person would not allow the "no" responses to overcome his spirit of adventure and drive...and he created his own opportunities for self-employment.  God provided the tools, the talent, the support of friends and family, the space to work, and he supplied his own ingenuity and dreams to create products that would not only be useful and practical, but also interesting and unique.  Although this did not lead to wealth and prosperity, it did provide a sense of accomplishment and a way to obtain the necessary experience to build self-confidence and hone his skills so they would become more marketable. 

Day by day this wanna-be entrepreneur worked and studied and experimented with new designs and techniques...and kept busy with new projects instead of giving up hope and becoming a "couch potato".  But after months of no real income he was becoming a bit discouraged and began to wonder if he should just give up on the woodworking and try something else.  Then something wonderful happened...an acquaintance told him about a local furniture manufacturing company that just might be hiring.  As a matter of fact, this acquaintance actually knew the general manager of the company and put in a good word for our self-taught woodworker.  And lo! and behold!  About two weeks later this manager called up and invited our young man to come in for an interview, which resulted in his being hired for a full time position which started immediately!  The question the man asked him was, "Do you know how to operate saws and woodworking equipment?"  Well, guess what?  About a year and a half ago he would not have been able to answer that question with the same confidence and truth with which he was able to respond at this particular time.  You see, God knew way back when that this was exactly the kind of training and experience he would need to get this job today.  God provided the tools, the determination to learn and experiment, and the encouragement from friends and family that drove him forward.  Then, when the time was right, God provided the Open Window of opportunity for which he had been completely prepared.  God's timing is always perfect...and His plans are always exact and complete.  We just have to learn to trust and obey the nudges He gives us to move forward in the right direction.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."  Jeremiah 29:11

Thank you, Lord, for giving our son the proper guidance at the right time...and for helping him to believe that what appeared to be a "closed door" was actually a path to the "open window" that You were preparing for him ahead of time.  May we all be encouraged by this story today. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

You can see more of Ben's Country Woodshop on the link provided above to the page on this blog. http://pamelasopenwindow.blogspot.com/p/closed-doors-open-windowsand-motivation.html Also, go to http://www.start-with-free-woodworking-plans.com/  for more ideas and products that have come as a result of this "open window".   We give God all the glory!!