Acts 9:20-30 NKJV

[20] Immediately, he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. [21] Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?” [22] But Saul increased all the more in strength and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ. [23] Now, after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. [24] But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. [25] Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket. [26] And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. [27] But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. [28] So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. [29] And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. [30] When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.

I am a firm believer in the old adage, "If God is leading us TO it, He will bring us THROUGH it." That goes for pretty much every possible scenario. Saul's calling was met with all sorts of hostility. The ones who weren't afraid of him (because of his previous identity) wanted to kill him (because of his newfound identity).

Through all of the death threats and plots, God opened doors,let down baskets, and cleared paths to spare him. For the places he was meant to go, God created a way and had His people there before him to prepare a place.

I experienced some small-scale versions of this in my own life. I lost former acquaintances because I chose a different path. I acted differently because I had a real-life experience with Jesus. People who knew me had reasonable doubts regarding my authenticity. It made no difference. I trusted that God would see me through because I faithfully followed where I believed He was leading me.

I still find myself scratching my head, wondering how I got through all I did and how I ended up where I am. My wife found a wall hanging that perfectly describes what Saul was going through... and what I have regularly felt in the past few years. "Trusting God makes sense even when it doesn't."