“If this is what God wanted me to do, it wouldn’t be so difficult.” Have you ever thought that way? Does a great amount of difficulty demonstrate that we are going against God’s will?
Paul and his companions might have wondered, too. After finding shelter in their friendships at Sidon, Paul and his companions embarked again, only to face fierce headwinds. The challenging breeze forced them to stay close to the coast. Thankfully, they found another ship headed to Italy. Once again, they made slow headway, and progressed only with great difficulty. This part of the journey put Paul and friends in the right place to get the right ship. But the going was still tough.
God does not promise that his way is the easy way. Remember Barnabas and Paul’s words in Acts 14:22, “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” Paul’s words to the Romans help us here, “We know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purposes.” God was going to get Paul to Rome. But the journey would take a toll on the travelers. Just so, “Some through the fire, some through the flood . . . God leads his dear children along.”
