Where is this all going?

Ever feel anxiety? Hopeless? Bewildered by life or have feelings that things are out of control? I think we all do at some point. God’s Word is an anchor for us. Or, as Bob Dylan said, a “shelter in the storm.”

The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” Acts 23:11

Understanding the life of Paul, the context of this verse, provides great encouragement, direction, and answers to our personal journey.

Do not fear.

At this moment, Paul has just been arrested, again. By this time on his journey, Paul is over 50, has been stoned, left to die, ran out of cities, whipped, beaten, and thrown in jail quite a few times. To say his life has been difficult is an under-statement. And, yet again, he has found himself held captive, with the world seemingly against him. Given the Lord’s opening comment of “take courage” in this statement to Paul, he must have been full of fear and anxiety on what was next on the journey.

“Do not fear” or a similar phrase is mentioned countless times in the Bible, 365 times is what I have been told. The focus from God on this topic is painfully obvious, because it is an emotion that will happen to everyone reading this blog. So, if you are facing fear right now, you are normal. Fear paralyzes, cripples thinking, and sometimes action. Fear can happen in an instant, or it can be a lifelong battle.

We don’t need deep theological truths in these moments. We don’t need well-meaning, optimistic friends (which I love) telling us to “hang in there.” We need empathy from friends, and we need an anchor to be with us in the storm. Just like with Paul, we need the Lord at our side. Rest assured, He is.

“…..And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew‬ ‭28:20‬ ‭

“fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah‬ ‭41:10‬

When you can’t find the words to even pray, recite Matthew 28:20. If we know nothing else at the moment, we know He is with us.

God has a plan.

In Galatians 1:15, Paul says that God “set him apart before he was born.” God uniquely chose Paul in the womb. Through his early thirties, Paul was vehemently against those who followed Jesus, with the goal of capturing and imprisoning anyone that believed. Then, in Acts 9, Jesus appears to Paul and his life is changed, he has a new direction.

Did you catch that over-simplification? God chose Paul in the womb, his life was against God until he was in his early thirties, then he followed God. God had a plan for Paul the whole time. It wasn’t as if God thought of the plan when Paul achieved some milestone. And, in this moment in Acts 23 in Paul’s life, God has a unique plan for him.

No matter where you are right now, what you are doing, if you are reading this blog, God has a plan for you. It is true. This is the reason for life.

Tell the truth, our simple piece of the plan.

Paul had visited 13+ cities in many countries by Acts 23. He had spoken countless times to countless people, from Lystra in modern-day Turkey to Athens, where he was given a platform to speak to the great philosophers of the day. Paul always had one message – the truth.

When the Lord approaches Paul in this verse, he has one bit of instruction for him, one simple piece of the plan that is his responsibility. Tell the truth, deliver the facts about me.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew‬ ‭5:14-16‬

Be a light. God doesn’t instruct Paul to raise his voice against all the issues in society that day. God simply tells Paul to state the facts about Jesus. Maybe the tendency is to focus on what you are against. God says to focus on the truth, what you are for. Focus on Him.

God handles the details of the journey.

At this moment in Paul’s life, he has no clue what is in store for his future. He had longed to visit Rome (Romans 1) and even mentioned that he would visit Rome in Acts 19:21. But, at this moment, he finds himself toward the end of his journey, once again in jail in Jerusalem. The Lord steps in and tells him that he is headed to Rome. I wonder the excitement he must have felt receiving this news.

The subsequent events that lead Paul to Rome are impossible, without Him. God orchestrates the move in Acts 24 through 26 involving a plan by the people to kill Paul, a ship wreck, an evil priest, and so on and so on. Finally, in Acts 28, Paul is Rome, stays for 2 years, and delivers the truth to the people “day and night.”

We have no clue what God has planned for our future, but know that God will take care of the details, handle the journey. It is a great thing to pray and search for God’s will for your life, but, rest assured, God has the details already planned out. He has you right where you are for a reason, and He has your future.

I heard a speaker say that following God is like walking through life at night with a lantern. You can only see about 2 feet in front of you, but, when you turn around, the path that you have been on is illuminated. It may not make sense now, but one day, when you look back, you will understand how the pieces of the journey fit together.

Take courage, God is with you. He has a plan. Tell the truth, your simple piece of the plan. And, know that the journey is in His hands. Peace be with you.

Impact others. Love generously.

Follow my blog.