In the fourth part of his series focussing on people on the move, the Rev Richard Baxter describes how a change of direction can turn into a blessing.
“IF you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans,” is a modern version of an old Yiddish proverb. The Scottish equivalent was expressed by Robert Burns: “The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft agley.” People who are on the move should not be surprised if they make a few detours along the way.
While training for ministry I knew exactly where God should send me. I was looking for a congregation in a town with several other churches, a congregation with one building, one Sunday morning service, and definitely not a new linkage or union. Inexplicably, (or so it seemed to me) God got it wrong and led me to a place which didn’t fit any of my preconceptions. Of course, He turned out to be absolutely right. It was my carefully thought-out plans that were wrong and had to change.
If you’ve ever found your life taking a radical detour, heading off in a totally unexpected direction, only later to discover that God had a better plan in mind all along, then you will understand this month’s reflection on people on the move.
Paul knew exactly where he should go next.
He had already undertaken an arduous journey through the southern cities of Asia Minor. In Perga, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe people listened to the good news of Jesus and responded. Certainly there was hostility, opposition and even violence on occasions, but that arose precisely because people were responding to Paul’s message.
So the next step was obvious. He would return to visit those cities again, then push further, up to the cities on the north coast of Asia Minor, before working his way east. It was a sensible, well-thought-out strategic plan. There was just one problem. God had another idea.
The story is in Acts 16.6-10. The first hint that Paul’s careful plans were in trouble came when his intention to preach in the Roman province of Asia was frustrated. Reaching the north coast, he prepared to turn east along the southern shore of the Black Sea.
Somehow the border was shut or the path was blocked. We’re not sure exactly what happened, but Paul had to go west instead on a detour. Reaching Troas on the northern Aegean, he was already well offcourse, and no doubt frustrated by events. Then God really threw a spanner in the works. In a dream Paul heard a call to go west into Europe, not east into Asia.
Paul’s plans were in tatters, but faced with a choice between going God’s way or sticking to his own plans, there was only one option. The planting of the Christian church in Europe stemmed from Paul finding God was laughing at his plans.
People on the move don’t know exactly where they will end up, and God has a habit of setting up detours. Some people with clear career paths mapped out are diverted by a call to ministry. Others are guided to areas of service they never imagined were their natural strengths. Sometimes family relationships take off in unexpected directions.
People on the move have to cope with changes of direction. However a willingness to go on God’s detours is often the best way to find ourselves in the place where we were really meant to be all along.
The Rev Richard Baxter is minister at Fort William: Duncansburgh MacIntosh linked with Kilmonivaig.