Recently I was reading Acts and I came across a story that helped me realize that God's will might mean he has to shut doors in my life and redirect me. When this happens to us, and because of our human nature, we respond in many different ways. Most of the time we become frustrated and try to figure a way around the issue or simply give up.
Sometimes we forget that Paul was not just an Apostle or a great Missionary, but a human, and we fail to remember that there were times when even he didn’t know where God wanted him to go.
When God points us in the opposite direction, we may encounter trials. Remember what happened to Paul and Silas in Acts Chapter 16.
In this story Paul and Silas are traveling from town to town sharing the gospel and as they attempt to travel into Asia and Bithynia God detours them. They soon find themselves naked, severely beaten, thrown into a dungeon and shackled. They didn't turn on God or give up on their missional journey, rather we find that they discover an incredible perseverance that mere humans without Christ can't experience. Paul and Silas were praising God and singing in the midst of their trial. Even more so, they were still willing to seize the opportunity God gives them to share the gospel with their jailer. The jailer then accepts Christ along with his entire household.
When we look at things through God's perspective we come to realize that our trials have a greater purpose. This story inspires us to persevere in the midst of our trouble so that we may find joy in them as we fulfill God's will.
Please read Acts Chapter 16 to get a full grasp of this remarkable story.