Lessons learned through blocked paths and open road

Lately, the road in front of our church is under construction.

The name of the road is Monroe, and at the intersection,

there is a large and wide road called Vermont,

and a smaller and narrower one named Madison.

Typically, people coming from the city to work

on the construction block the entrance from Vermont Road to Monroe Road entirely,

and they partially block the entrance from Madison Road to Monroe Road.

So, when I usually come to the church,

driving and getting off the highway,I take Vermont Road.

Knowing that the entrance to Monroe Road in front of our church is blocked,

I either make a right turn before that road or make a left turn from Madison Road

through the half-open entrance to Monroe Road, and then enter the church parking lot.

However, a couple of times, I forgot and continued on Vermont Road,

only to realize that Monroe Road was blocked.

In those instances, I had to pass it, make a U-turn at the next street,

turn left onto Madison Road, make a right turn onto Monroe Road,

and finally enter the church parking lot.  Haha!

Today during the early morning prayer meeting,

this illustration came to my mind. I was preaching from Acts 16:6-10. Haha.

As I shared about the Holy Spirit preventing Paul and his companions

from preaching in Asia and not allowing them to go to Bithynia (vv. 6, 7),

it seemed like a fitting illustration for our church members.

The lesson I derived from this was that just as Paul had to change his plans

according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit,

I, too, should be willing to alter my course when faced with roadblocks in life.

If, for example, I encounter a roadblock at the intersection

where Vermont Road meets Monroe Road

and workers from the city are blocking the path,

it would be foolish to persist in waiting and trying to enter the blocked road.

In a similar vein, when the Holy Spirit blocks the path

I intend to take (even if my motives are as righteous and purposeful as Paul's

in spreading the glory of God and the gospel),

I should not persist in stubbornly pursuing my own desires.

Instead, I should humble myself and pray, echoing the prayer of Jesus,

"Yet not as I will, but as You will" (Mt. 26:39).

This lesson reminded me that

I should offer this prayer to the Lord when faced with obstacles,

trusting in His guidance rather than stubbornly insisting on my own way.

Furthermore, the lesson extended to the idea that

when I see the road blocked on Vermont Road,

I should immediately turn and come to the church parking lot through Madison Road.

Similarly, when the Holy Spirit redirects my path,

leading me in a different direction (Exod. 13:17-18),

I should promptly obey,

even if I don't fully understand the reasons behind the redirection.

I realized that,

despite not comprehending the purpose with my own understanding,

I should trust in the Lord with all my heart (Prov. 3:5-6)

and obediently follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit.