Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – This morning, my daughter asked a question that still lingers in my heart: “Why do things sometimes not work out the way we want?“

I paused before answering.

“Sometimes,” I told her, “God closes a door, and it feels like the end of the story. But really, He’s guiding us to the next chapter.”

She thought for a moment, then asked softly,

“But what if He forgets to open the next door?”

I smiled.

“Sweetheart, God never forgets. Sometimes He just walks us down the hallway first—so we’re ready when the right door opens.”

The Assumption: A Door Closed, a Door Opened

Today, Christians celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary—the belief that when her earthly life came to an end, God did not let that be the end.

One door closed: her time among us.

Another opened: the door to eternal glory, where she was taken—body and soul—into His presence.

From where we stand, death may seem like a final barrier. But in God’s plan, it is often the threshold to a life greater than we can imagine.

Mary in the Holy Qur’an and Christian Tradition

Mary (Maryam, peace be upon her) is revered in both Christianity and Islam. She is the only woman named in the Qur’an, which devotes an entire chapter—Surah Maryam—to her.

The Qur’an honors her as “chosen above all women of all nations” (Surah Aal-Imran 3:42), praising her purity, devotion, and unwavering trust in God.

In Christian tradition, Mary was betrothed to Joseph, a righteous man who considered ending their engagement after learning of her miraculous pregnancy. God sent an angel to assure him that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18–25).

In Islamic tradition, Mary remained a virgin and was under the care of Prophet Zakariya (Zechariah, peace be upon him), who himself experienced God’s miracle when, despite his old age, he and his wife were blessed with a son—Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist, peace be upon him) (Qur’an 3:37, 19:2–15).

Both traditions tell of Mary’s trials. In the Qur’an, when she returned with her newborn son, she faced harsh accusations.

She pointed to the infant, and by God’s command, baby Jesus spoke from the cradle, declaring his prophethood and defending his mother (Qur’an 19:27–33).

In the Bible, Joseph’s doubts were resolved through divine reassurance.

These stories remind us that God’s purposes are often hidden from human understanding—and that faith sometimes means trusting Him before anyone else can see the truth.

A Father’s Lesson

I am reminded of the wisdom of my father, Ousman Njie—known to some as Njie Sarro and to others as Njie Bu Serr—of blessed memory.

He used to say,

“The road you walk today may look strange, but one day you will see it was the road you were meant to take all along.”

His words taught me that what feels like a detour may, in fact, be God’s redirection—a gentle hand turning us toward a better destination. I often think of this in those “hallway” seasons between a closed door and the one that is yet to open.

Scriptural Wisdom

Bible: “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” (2 Corinthians 5:1)

Qur’an: “It may be that you dislike a thing while it is good for you, and it may be that you love a thing while it is bad for you. Allah knows, and you do not know.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:216)

The Hallway of Trust

Like Mary, we are called to walk through the unknown with faith. The hallway between a closed door and an open one can feel long and lonely, but it is not wasted space. It is where God shapes our hearts, deepens our trust, and prepares us for what lies ahead.

If you find yourself in that hallway today:

Remember Mary’s trust when she could not yet see the full plan.

Remember my father’s words—that the strange road may be the right road.

Believe that God’s timing is never late and never wrong.

Prayer

“Lord, when we face closed doors, give us Mary’s trust. Help us walk patiently in the hallway, confident that You hold the keys to our future.

Allah, open for us the doors of what is good, close for us the doors of what is harmful, and make us content with Your decree.

Amen.“