Seasons in God

They went through the region of Phygia and Galatia and were prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the message in Asia. when they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bythinia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, bypassing Mysia, they came to Troas. during the night a vision appeared to Paul; a Macedonian man was standing and pleading with him, 'cross over to Macedonia and help us.' Acts 16:-9

Paul had set out to evangelise the then known world. There were needs everywhere he passed but the Holy Spirit prevented him from speaking. How would Paul take that in the natural? Would he be frustrated? what did the prevention by the Holy Spirit look like?

When God gives us a commission we are not told of the barriers but these are there. Why are we not told? Perhaps the barriers are there to test us and to protect us. Test us in that we discover what our responses are to barriers, protect us from going and doing that which might harm us or others, or waste out time and energy.

Yesterday I was totally unwell with a cold that had turned nasty and was trying to soldier on in the office. The printer kept jamming, it was saying 'no, no, no!'. My energy levels were so low so I said 'ok Lord I will take a break'. Immediately I sensed the Lord's approval.

For me the balance between the need to not accept what is upon me and push through is greater than the need to preserve my energy. It seems this is one lesson I am still learning.

So often we can become discouraged by the lack of results in sharing God's grace with those in our world. Perhaps we should be praying 'Lord show me who needs to hear this today'. Yes we don't want that any should perish but God knows who He has ready.

There are seasons where a river flows and hoses down everybody in it's path and there are times when there is only one. In my life, at present I have the role of discpiling just one and that one is proving to be such a good pupil. That one will bring the many.

Trust God for His seasons and times. Amen!