By: Terry Allen
Credit: Malcom Lloyd/Hasan Diggs
Big Mama used to tell us, “Baby, don’t cry over a closed door. If God wanted you in that room, the door would already be open.”
Too often we mistake a setback for a defeat. We lose a bid, miss an opportunity, get rejected, or watch a dream delayed and think the story is over. But history—and today’s headlines—tell a different story.
Look at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Some of the most inspiring stories are not about teams that always won. They are about teams that refused to quit. Ghana failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, yet came back stronger and earned its place on the world’s biggest stage. DR Congo waited more than 50 years to return to the World Cup after decades of disappointment. Panama was dismissed after previous struggles, only to fight its way back. Turkey returned after a 24-year absence, proving that persistence often outlasts failure.
The same lesson applies to North Texas. Dallas wanted the World Cup Final and didn’t get it. Many saw that as a loss. Yet Dallas pivoted and secured something equally significant: more matches than any other host city and the role of International Broadcast Center for the entire tournament. What looked like a disappointment became an opportunity to become the operational heartbeat of the World Cup.
Across America, many BIPOC communities are facing their own setbacks. DEI initiatives have been challenged, corporate priorities have shifted, and community organizations are often being asked to do more with less. Yet not everyone has turned away from the commitment to community impact.
Organizations and leaders such as H-E-B, Victor Johnson, and Prosperity Bank chose not to be deterred by changing political winds or economic uncertainty. Instead, they continued to invest in people, families, and communities by supporting City Men Cook and its mission of mentoring, health awareness, fatherhood engagement, workforce development, and community service.
Their support serves as a reminder that while some doors may close, others remain open because there are still leaders who understand that strong communities are built through partnership, opportunity, and action. In a season when many are retreating, these partners stepped forward. What could have been viewed as a setback became proof that purpose-driven work still attracts purpose-driven people.
Joseph had a prison. Moses had a wilderness. Dr. King had a jail cell.
Our ancestors had barriers that were designed to stop them.
Yet every one of them found another way forward.
The truth is this: a setback is often God’s redirection. What feels like rejection today may become your greatest testimony tomorrow.
So when a door closes, don’t waste your energy kicking it down.
Remember what Big Mama said:
“A setback is not a stop sign. It’s a setup for your next move.”
And if you come to a closed door, stop calling it a tragedy.
It’s simply proof that it wasn’t your door. Keep moving. God is already preparing the one with your name on it.
Terry Allen is an NABJ award-winning Journalist, DEI expert, PR professional, and – Vice President at FocusPR, founder of the charity City Men Cook, and Dallas Chapter President of NBPRS.org
