Goff challenges the notion that God only guides through opening and closing doors, suggesting instead that sometimes God expects proactive effort—”kicking down” doors. Goff shares his unconventional journey to law school, marked by poor academic performance and a lackluster LSAT score, followed by multiple rejection letters from law schools. He tells how he sat outside the dean’s office at the law school he wished to attend, repeating his request to enroll until the dean relented.

Goff suggests that while some may interpret closed doors as divine signals to move on, it may be a test of one’s resolve and commitment to a calling. He presents God’s will not as a series of passive signposts but as a partnership where human determination plays a crucial role. The story ends with Goff, now a law professor, encouraging students in a similar way that he was encouraged, highlighting the power of words and actions to change life’s course. Goff’s uses his experience to exemplify a larger principle in his life and work: the conviction that active faith, characterized by bold steps and resilience, is often rewarded with growth and opportunity.