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Chloe (1 Corinthians 1:11)
Nympha (Colossians 4:15)
As Paul headed out on his second missionary journey, he planned to take the gospel to Asia.
But in Acts 16, we learn that God put a big red light on Paul’s plan—because He had bigger and
better plans:
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. (Acts 16:6-10, MSG)
Did you notice verse six says the Holy Spirit “blocked” that route? The Greek word used here
is κωλω (pronounced kolyo) and literally means “to hinder, prevent, forbid, to withhold a thing, to
deny or refuse a thing.” I don’t know how they understood God was blocking them. Perhaps they
weren’t allowed entrance, or maybe something in their gut told them not to proceed. Whatever the
case, God didn’t want them in Asia at this point, and in a vivid dream, He directed Paul somewhere
else.
God has certainly blocked my way many times before. In my book Beautifully Interrupted, I
wrote about how the life I live now is not the one I thought I wanted. My plan was to get my
doctorate in Art History, move to Europe, work as a curator at some fantastic museum…and kids?
They weren’t in my five-year, ten-year, or really any-year plan.
But one day I realized I’d never consulted God in any of my plans. As the tattoo on my right
wrist now reminds me, I prayed the words “send me.” I wish God had told me exactly where to
go—but instead of knowing what to do, I almost immediately knew what I wasn’t supposed to do.
And that was continue pursuing art history. He most certainly blocked and forbade that route for
me because He had something bigger and more exciting. I see that now, looking back. But at the
time, it wasn’t without dragging my feet.
Has God ever blocked the route you were going? What happened? How did you respond?
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