In Acts 16, Paul and Silas and later Timothy are visiting churches through Syria, Cilicia, Derbe, Lystra, Phrygia and Galatia. As they were to go further, into Asia, the Holy Spirit forbid them. Coming to Mysia, they were forbidden to enter Bithynia, so they came to Troas. There, Paul received a night vision, a plea to come to Macedonia.
"Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord," (2 Corinthians 2: 12)
"For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries." (1 Corinthians 16: 9)
"And when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles." (Acts 14: 27)
"meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, ..." (Colossians 4: 3)
"But ... some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the way ..." (Acts 19: 9)
We make plans to go somewhere and may actually arrive, but then an opportunity to go elsewhere arises.
Sometimes we think as we travel along the path the Lord has purposed for us that wherever we go it is right, but that isn't always so. Sometimes doors we think should open never do. We do not understand why. But there is a reason. When we are focused on the Lord and stay focused on Him and just rely on Him alone, we will discover that the door we are to enter will open when the time is right.
Focusing and staying focused and total reliance on Him alone -- so easy to say, so hard to achieve, but we must make the effort ... to grow.
"... I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness." (Psalm 84:10)
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