Recalculating

Just when you think you know God’s plans, God shows other plans.

Just when you think you’ve figured out God’s will, God shows you something else.

Ever felt that way?  You’ve read the Bible, you’ve prayed, you’ve got all your spiritual bases covered so that you’re certain you’re doing what you’re supposed to–only to have the same God you thought was directing you, lead you in another direction?  It’s confusing, isn’t it?

In Acts 16, Paul is on a missionary journey.  He knows he’s been directed to spread the word about Jesus, and he’s got the trip all planned out.  He’s measured the miles on Google Maps, planned out his destinations, and even allowed extra travel time for site-seeing along the way.  But God has other plans in mind.  Verses 6-10 (MSG) say:

They went to Phrygia, and then on through the region of Galatia. Their plan was to turn west into Asia province, but the Holy Spirit blocked that route. So they went to Mysia and tried to go north to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn’t let them go there either. Proceeding on through Mysia, they went down to the seaport Troas.

That night Paul had a dream: A Macedonian stood on the far shore and called across the sea, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” The dream gave Paul his map. We went to work at once getting things ready to cross over to Macedonia. All the pieces had come together. We knew now for sure that God had called us to preach the good news to the Europeans.

Just when Paul thought he had his itinerary all scheduled, God threw a monkey wrench into his plans.  First by the Holy Spirit, then by the Spirit of Jesus; finally by a vision of a Macedonian man–three times Paul was told that the course he had plotted was good, but it wasn’t right for today.  Instead of taking the Gospel deeper into Asia, Paul turned aside and jumped the creek into Europe.  And the course of church history was changed, from Paul’s will to God’s will.

What made the difference in this story?  How was Paul able to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit, of Jesus, and of the Macedonian?  He took time to get quiet, to pray, and to listen to the inner prompting of his heart.

I know in my own life, just when I thought I had the next couple of decades planned out, God let me know in very clear terms that my plans were not his plans. In Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV), God says:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”

declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Maybe God’s been showing you the same thing that I had to learn, and that Paul had to learn.  Maybe you’re seeing that no matter how much work and detail you’ve put into plotting your course, God may have detours ahead.  How do you deal with those details?  Take time to get quiet, to pray, and to listen to the inner prompting of your voice.

When I’m on a road trip, I generally trust my GPS to take me where I want to go.  But sometimes a detour comes up that I didn’t expect.  That’s when the GPS says, “Recalculating.” That’s when I’ve got to be willing to adjust my plans, recalculate, and go a new way.  I hope that when life takes you on detours, you’ll be able to recalculate and go with God’s plan rather than your own plan.  As you do so, I wish you safe travels.

© Gregory T. Smith. Reprinted with permission revgregsmith.blogspot.com