God blocked it!
“6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul[a] had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” (Acts 16: 6-10)
I am not much of a sports person but I do find sincere amusement when any sport has a good defense. I especially enjoy a good game of basketball, namely when one player is so close to scoring only to have the ball knocked away by the other team. The original player was so sure success was imminent, only to be detoured. Depending on who you’re rooting for, a good defensive play will either incite frustration or excitement. In this passage, we witness the defensive side of God. Paul and Timothy were a mentor-mentee pair, journeying together to spread the Gospel to all nations. They had a plan in mind of which region they would travel to next. Sometimes, though, despite our best intentions, God steps in to remind us that His plans are sovereign. One beautiful aspect of our walk with God is his desire to lead and guide every aspect of our lives. “Having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia” (vs. 6) suggests that God was in direct communication with the men as they traveled. This is important because we can fall into the trap of wanting God to direct at the beginning and then leave us in control of the rest. On the contrary, God wants to be at the beginning, in the middle, and see us through to the end. Again, as they tried to go into Bithynia, the Holy Spirit blocked that “shot” as well! It can be so frustrating when we have plans that make sense, are profitable, and even involve God but they still don’t seem to work out. These men were not on a self-gratifying mission, they were not sinning or going against God…and yet, He still blocked them.
It can be easy to think that a “no” from God is a sign that He is angry with you or is punishing you for some grave sin. However, God’s “no” is simply his direction. Looking back over my life, I can name at least 5 instances in the last 2 years alone where I was so sure I was on the right path. Everything made sense to me, and I was disappointed when the door closed in my face. Job opportunities, relationships, and friendships were blocked by the best defensive player ever. It was not until later that I could use hindsight to see that God was only using his perfect perspective to guide me away from what was ultimately less than his best for me. Paul and Timothy displayed a level of submission and maturity that we should all aspire to: they did not ask questions or argue, but instead, they followed directions and focused on their effectiveness in the next place they were led to.
What about you? When God redirects your plan, either because of blatant error or because He sees what we don’t, you can trust that His thoughts are higher than yours. You can trust that if you don’t get the job, He has somewhere else He wants you. If the relationship passes you by, trust that God is big enough to carry your heart and theirs. You see, when you’re in Christ you have the invaluable benefit of knowing that ALL things work together for your good. I know it’s easier said than done, but all we have to do is position ourselves to hear direction and be obedient. How can you thank God for blocking in your life?
Prayer:
Father, thank You for being my shepherd. You see what I can’t see and I trust you even when I don’t understand. I humble myself and know that you know better than I do. Please give me a heart of obedience and sharpen my ear to hear your direction in the middle. I invite you into my process. In Jesus’ name, amen.
