God the concert conductor

1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:5 [17]But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short while--in person, not in spirit--were all the more eager with great desire to see your face. [18]For we wanted to come to you--I, Paul, more than once--and yet Satan hindered us. [19]For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? [20]For you are our glory and joy. [1] Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone, [2]and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith, [3]so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this. [4]For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know. [5]For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain. NASB

Paul speaks of Satan hindering him. We were reading just Thursday in Acts about similar hindrances. In Acts 20 we read that Paul changed his travel plans because of the Jews. They were Satan's agents to hinder him. But he took advantage of it to do good elsewhere.

Does Satan ever hinder you? I am tempted to think when someone bad happens that it is my fault. I get angry at myself. Not everything is a spiritual act by the enemy of all good but I need to be willing to give myself more grace.

We need to not give up and sulk when things do not go as we planned. We can take Paul as our example. When we find a block against something we wish to do we need to find out where God has opened another door for us to serve.

Sometimes it is good to persevere and wait. But often circumstances can be God telling us he has different plans.

In a recent sermon DR said God does not treat us like puppets on a string. No he is more like a concert conductor. He puts all the musicians' efforts together to make wonderful music together. Each has his own part.

By Satan blocking Paul's way into Syria God used it to encourage and get the Good News of Jesus' salvation to more people in Macedonia. God used it for good.