When Things Don't Go Smoothly

Hello and welcome to Van Life Devotions. We are in the ancient city of Philippi. We were reminded in the previous Van Life Devotion that the Spirit of God kept Paul from preaching the gospel in Asia which in modern day Turkey and we said that sometimes when a door closes God may have a better idea. And that seemed to be right. Through a vision, Paul felt the need to go to Macedonia. They sailed from Troas to Neapolis (modern day ‎Kavala) and walked a further 22 kilometres to Philippi. 

In Philippi and through the preaching of the gospel, Lydia and her household were converted and baptized. They were the first European converts and with Paul commenced the church at Philippi. God’s better idea was being shown.

The miracles continued for Paul. On another day they went to the place of prayer again, this time they met a lady who was a fortune teller and made lots of money for her owners. After a few days of seeing her erratic behaviour, Paul commanded the spirit to come out from her. At that moment, the evil spirit left her. What a great start in this city for Paul – baptisms and healings.

However, and this is what I want to share today, even though God may have a better idea for you, doesn’t mean that it will all be smooth sailing as Paul and Silas were about to learn. 

The fortune teller’s owners were furious when they realised that she will no longer make money from her and so they dragged Paul and Silas to the marketplace before the authorities with false accusations. The authorities order them to be beaten. And then we read in Acts 16:23-24, “They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.” (Acts 16:23-24 NLT).

Here were Paul and Silas in jail (many believe that this was the actual jail) after been beaten severely probably wondering was this such a good idea to come to Philippi? And sometimes when new doors open, challenges can comfort us.

Interestingly, we are told that through their pain Paul and Silas were praying and singing to God with the other prisoners listening to them. We life throws those unexpected curve balls we just have keep on trusting, praying and worshipping God. 

While in jail God sent another miracle. An earthquake happened causing the prisoners to be loose from their chains and the jail doors open. On seeing what had happened, the jailer standing guard was about to kill himself because he knew if he didn’t, the Romans would because the prisoners escaped under his watch. But Paul stopped him and through sharing the gospel, the jailer and those within his house became followers of Jesus and were baptized. In fact, Luke wrote in Acts 16:34, “he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God” (Acts 16:34 NLT).

After the authorities came to find out what had happened and realized that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they apologized to them and released them from jail. They went back to Lydia’s house and stayed there and encouraged the new church until Paul had to leave.

Even if God has a better idea for you when doors close but other opens doesn’t mean that it will be all smooth sailing, but it will mean God’s plan will prevail. The church here at Philippi grew in strength and in numbers. Other first and second century letters from Christian leaders indicate that the church had grown and when Christianity was legal, church buildings were built like this one.

Let’s pray.

Dear God. When life throws curve balls at us, help us to keep trusting, praying, and worshipping. O God, preserve us who travel; surround us with your loving care; protect us from every danger; and bring us in safety to our journey’s end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

David Moyes