In Acts 16:7 (ESV), we read, “And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them”. Sometimes, we make plans that seem good and noble, but the Holy Spirit steps in and prevents them from happening. Paul and Timothy were familiar with this type of divine redirection. In verse 6, they had hoped to enter Asia to spread the Gospel, yet the Holy Spirit blocked their way. Then again, in verse 7, they were stopped from going into Bithynia. From a human perspective, what could be more aligned with God’s will than sharing the Gospel? Why would He prevent them from pursuing such a mission?
In verse 9, we begin to see God’s reasoning. It wasn’t that God didn’t want the Gospel to be preached—He had a specific place for it. That night, Paul received a vision of a man in Macedonia pleading for help: “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” God had a greater plan, directing Paul and Timothy to where they were truly needed.
How does this apply to us today? Perhaps we have experienced doors closing on opportunities that seemed perfect at the time. For example, maybe we were rejected by our top-choice college, only to realize later that attending another school allowed us to meet someone who became a lifelong friend or even our spouse. Or maybe a dream job slipped through our fingers, only for a different path to emerge that led to something even better. On the other hand, it’s possible that God placed us in a difficult situation—perhaps in a job where we encounter a challenging coworker. While we might be tempted to resist these interactions, it could be that our kindness and witness will lead that person to Christ. Is a single soul worth the change in our plans?
As Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV) reminds us: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” God’s plans often surpass our understanding. While we may not always grasp why He prevents us from pursuing something that seems good, we can trust that His wisdom and perspective far exceed our own, and the reasons may become clearer as we walk in faith or once we reach eternity.
Reflection Questions
- Can you recall a time when a plan you had was blocked or redirected? How did you respond to that change at the time?
- When you face obstacles in your plans, what steps can you take to seek God’s guidance for His direction instead?
- How can trusting in God’s higher purpose help you navigate times when His plans seem unclear or different from your own?
- Have you ever seen a closed door lead to an unexpected opportunity that brought more joy or purpose in the long run? What did you learn from that experience?
- How might God be inviting you to embrace a challenging situation or relationship, trusting that He is using it for a greater purpose?
Reflective Prayer
Use these verses to pray using the ACTS method: Adoration, Confession, Thankfulness, Supplication
- Adoration: Praise God. Do these verses bring any specific characteristics of God to mind?
- Confession: Tell God that you are sorry for specific sins. Do these verses bring any specific sins to mind?
- Thankfulness: Show gratitude towards God. Does anything from these verses inspire gratitude?
- Supplication: Make requests for yourself and for others. Does anything from these verses inspire a prayer?
If helpful, you can use a prayer journal template.
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English Standard Version (ESV): Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.
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