Redirected

“Now when they had gone through

Phrygia and the region of Galatia,

they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit

to preach the word in Asia.

After they had come down to Mysia,

they tried to go into Bithynia,

but the Spirit did not permit them.”

               Acts 16:6-7 (NKJV)

Last week, I thought I knew just where the Lord wanted me to go, so I rushed ahead, excitedly making plans.  Then suddenly the door I thought I was going through was slammed shut.  At first I was disappointed.  This seemed like the perfect scenario. . .so what happened, what went wrong?  But then I was grateful for God’s clear guidance.

God’s ways are not our ways and His timing is not our timing.  (Isaiah 55:8-9)  Although my plan seemed like the right thing, it was not God’s will for me then.  Apparently, He has something different (and better!) in mind, or maybe it will happen as I supposed but at a different time. As noted in the verses above, the Apostle Paul set out to do God’s work in certain areas but was prevented from doing so by the Holy Spirit because God had other plans for him at that time.

I also learned something important. I was rushing ahead rather than waiting for His direction; leading rather than following.  Also, I was presumptuous, assuming I knew what God had in mind instead of waiting for Him to show me, step by step.  It’s much better to let God’s plan unfold as He sees fit rather than forging ahead with my own ideas, even if my way seems good.

So I’m staying close to Him and His word so He can guide me. I’m spending time quietly listening for His direction. I’m laying aside my expectations in submission to His plan and timing. And I’m praying for God to keeping closing the doors that are not in His plan and opening wide the ones that are. Being redirected by God is a good thing!