Episode Details

What if the closed door in front of you isn’t a setback, but God inviting you to change directions?

Heidi Hull went to college to become an art teacher. But while student teaching in New Zealand, she was paired with a teacher who wouldn’t actually let her teach. Looking for another way to connect with students, Heidi started making jewelry with girls during their lunch breaks—even though she had never made jewelry before. Before long, teachers were asking to buy her pieces, and an unexpected detour began changing the trajectory of Heidi’s life.

In this conversation, Heidi joins Willow to talk about recognizing when God may be calling us to change directions, reframing closed doors, knowing when to stop pushing and rest, and finding the courage to follow God into something we never planned.

Heidi’s story is a reminder that changing directions doesn’t necessarily mean you got the original plan wrong. Sometimes God uses everything along the way—the education, disappointment, closed doors, gifts, relationships, and even the people who doubt us—to prepare us for a calling we couldn’t see coming.

Meet Heidi Hull

Heidi Hull is a wife, mom, business owner, jewelry designer, and former member of the Collide ministry team. She unexpectedly founded Heidi Hull Designs after discovering a love for jewelry-making while student teaching in New Zealand. Her company creates minimalist, timeless everyday and bridal jewelry and has grown from a small side business into a brand carried by retailers across the United States.

At the heart of Heidi’s story is a desire to let God lead both her life and her business. Today, that includes pursuing opportunities for her bridal line to create meaningful work and new beginnings for women who have experienced trafficking.

Key Takeaways

• When your plans get interrupted: Pay attention. The frustrating detour you never wanted may become the very thing God uses to redirect your life.
• When something comes easily to you: Don’t assume it has no value. Heidi almost overlooked her artistic gifts because they felt as natural as breathing.
• When an opportunity comes your way: Ask three questions: How will this affect my family? How will it benefit the business? Is there Kingdom purpose in it?
• When you need direction: Seek wise counsel—but continue listening to God for yourself. Heidi relies on trusted women for prayer and perspective while remembering that even wise people won’t always understand what God is asking of you.
• When your dream feels impossible: Start small anyway. Sometimes the fact that you can’t see how something could possibly work is exactly what makes room for God to show up.

How This Episode Will Encourage You

Maybe you’re staring at a closed door right now. Maybe you’re frustrated because something isn’t growing fast enough. Or maybe you have a dream so big that you’re afraid to say it out loud because you don’t know what you’ll do if it fails.

Heidi’s story reminds us that God’s direction doesn’t always look like forward momentum.

Sometimes He redirects. Sometimes He says no. Sometimes He gives us a season to rest. Sometimes He asks us to take a risk without knowing the outcome.

And sometimes the only thing we need to do is start small.

You don’t need the entire plan before taking the first step. You don’t need to prove yourself to the people who have misunderstood you. And you don’t need a guaranteed outcome before being obedient.

As Heidi says, we were created “perfectly imperfect” so that we would rely on God and seek Him for the path ahead.

Start with what’s in front of you. Trust God with