Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. (Acts 16:6-7, NIV)

I've found myself repeating three words to my toddler lately: Listen and obey. Because sometimes he hears me, but he doesn't obey. And sometimes he might hear me, but that doesn't mean he's listening. And while I'm trying to teach this to my toddler, the reality is that I'm not always great at lining up both of these practices either, especially when it comes to my relationship with God. Why is that?

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Well, sometimes I think we don't quite know how to listen to God. After all, he's not kneeling down, literally right in front of my face, clearly asking me to pick up my toys for the 475th time... We have to learn other ways to listen to God, like through his Word, through discerning the nudges of the Holy Spirit, and through others whom God puts in our lives to offer wise counsel. And even then, after all that, there comes the obeying. And as you may well know, especially in those situations that swell with discomfort, obeying God can be some of the most challenging steps you'll ever take.

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Paul and his companions model living within this tension in Acts 16. They're traveling around the Mediterranean region, strengthening the church plants and spreading the gospel. Watch how they practice listening and obeying today's passage:  

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First, "Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia" (v. 6). Sure, the Spirit could have created some divine, invisible wall, and whenever these guys tried to cross the border into Asia Minor, they were bounced back as from a force field... but I doubt it. More likely, they were listening to the guidance of the Spirit and discerned that Asia was not where they should go at that time, even though they had planned to. Or, maybe they faced some kind of opposition that they attributed to the Spirit's providence, just as we might say God "closed a door." Then comes more opposition: "When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to" (v. 7). Again, we don't know what that looked like specifically, but what's significant is that they were listening - sensitive to the Spirit's guidance - and obedient - changed their own plans in response to what they discerned the Spirit was saying.  

My toddler would probably agree - listening and obeying is hard! Paul and his crew's sensitivity to the Spirit and flexibility is remarkable and absolutely worthy of our aspiration. Maybe today you begin asking the Lord to help you listen and obey in your own moments of discomfort. Ask him to grow your sensitivity to the Spirit's guidance so that you can begin to listen when you notice that nudge, when the words seem to jump off the page, or when the wise counsel of a friend hits you. Then, ask God for the flexibility and trust to give him your yes, even when it's different than what you'd hoped for.  

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In fact, the rest of this passage encourages us toward this call. First, it reveals that a no from God doesn't necessarily mean you're outside of his will. Like Paul and his friends, it might just be a no because God has somewhere better for you to be. When we really understand that God's guidance isn't about us, but it's about HIS glory and purposes, the no's can start to feel a little less personal and a little more purposeful.  

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We see this perspective shift confirmed in the subsequent verses. God wasn't shutting doors in Paul's face to vex, hurt, or punish him. Actually, he was in the process of blessing him! Because Paul was sensitive to the Spirit's no's, he was able to find the yes: After a vision, he discerns that God was directing them to the region of Macedonia (vv. 9-10). There, they come to the city of Philippi, and, from this city and the church they plant there, Paul would go on to be immensely blessed.  

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In his letter to the Philippian church, Paul says, "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now..." (Phil. 1:3-5). That "first day" - that was the vision! That was the yes that came on the heels of closed door after closed door.  

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Friend, I wonder what yes God might be preparing for YOU through some difficult no's? Whatever it is, I pray you listen and obey.  

God, thank you for directing our steps! Grow in us a greater sensitivity to the Spirit's leading and a courage to obey when we hear your yes and your no. We trust you! Amen.