Dragonfly Faith

Acts 16:6–10

Introduction

One of my favorite parts of summer is simply slowing down enough to notice what God has already placed around us.

Wildflowers. Butterflies. Gardens. Morning dew. Fresh tomatoes.

And if you're anywhere near a pond—or sometimes even our own parking lot—you'll probably notice dragonflies.

They're fascinating creatures.

Scientists tell us dragonflies can fly nearly thirty-five miles an hour.

They can move forward...

backward...

straight up...

sideways...

They can stop almost instantly and hover in place before changing direction again.

Watching one is almost impossible because just when you think you've figured out where it's going...

It's already somewhere else.

As I watched one recently, I wondered whether dragonflies might illustrate something about faith.

Because many of us think faith should feel like driving down Interstate 70.

Straight road.

Clear signs.

Known destination.

But most of life isn't Interstate 70.

It's much more like following a dragonfly.

Unexpected.

Changing.

Turning.

Waiting.

Moving again.

That sounds remarkably like today's Scripture.

Paul Had a Plan

Paul was not wandering aimlessly.

He had a mission.

He knew God had called him to preach.

He simply assumed he knew where.

The Scripture tells us:

They tried Asia.

No.

They tried Bithynia.

No.

Imagine Paul's frustration.

He wasn't running from God.

He was trying to obey.

Yet every door seemed closed.

Have you ever lived there?

You apply for the job.

No.

The doctor gives unexpected news.

Plans change.

The relationship ends.

The ministry doesn't unfold the way you imagined.

The retirement looks different.

The children choose another path.

Sometimes faithful people experience closed doors.

Closed doors are not always signs that we've failed.

Sometimes they're signs that God is redirecting us.

We Prefer GPS

One of the greatest inventions of our lifetime is GPS.

It tells us exactly where to turn.

Exactly how long it will take.

Exactly when we'll arrive.

We wish God worked like that.

"God, could You just send me the whole plan?"

Instead, God often gives only the next faithful step.

The Israelites received manna one day at a time.

Abraham left home without knowing where he was going.

Noah built before the rain.

Peter stepped out before the water became solid beneath him.

Faith has never meant seeing the whole journey.

Faith means trusting the One who does.

The Dragonfly Doesn't Fear Direction Changes

Dragonflies survive because they're flexible.

They don't panic when they change direction.

They simply keep flying.

Christians sometimes mistake flexibility for weak faith.

Actually...

Flexibility may be one of the greatest signs of mature faith.

The Holy Spirit often whispers:

"Not here."

"Wait."

"Try again."

"Go there."

The danger comes when we become so attached to our plans that we stop listening for God's.

The Macedonian Call

Then...

Everything changed.

One vision.

One dream.

One invitation.

"Come over to Macedonia and help us."

Notice something remarkable.

The vision didn't answer every question.

It simply revealed the next step.

Paul didn't know what awaited him.

He would meet Lydia.

Be imprisoned.

Sing hymns in jail.

Watch earthquake doors open.

See a jailer become a believer.

Help establish one of the first European churches.

None of that was visible that night.

All he had was one invitation.

Sometimes that's all God gives us.

Illustration

Years ago, Deb and I were driving through heavy snow around Chicago.

You could only see twenty feet ahead. We got with some tractor-trailers and started following them.

Those were the CB days. We were talking to them, and they said to stay exactly where we were in the

train, because you couldn’t see the exits, and someone might follow your tracks into the ditch.

But that's enough.

You drive twenty feet.

Then another twenty. You see the lights in front of you and behind you, but that is about it.

Eventually, you've traveled miles.

Life with God often feels exactly like that.

You don't need the whole journey.

You simply need enough light for today's obedience.

What This Means for Us

Maybe today God is redirecting you.

Maybe you're grieving because life didn't happen the way you expected.

Perhaps retirement looks different.

Health has changed.

Family circumstances shifted.

Plans fell apart.

The good news is this:

God's purpose has not fallen apart.

Closed doors are not empty hallways.

Sometimes they're simply God's way of steering us toward something we could never have imagined.

Conclusion

Every summer, a dragonfly begins life underwater.

Hidden.

Slow.

Ordinary.

Then one day it emerges.

Its wings unfold.

Its whole life changes.

Transformation comes.

Perhaps that's what God wants for us.

Not merely stronger faith.

But more flexible faith.

Faith is willing to pause.

Faith is willing to change.

Faith willing to trust.

Faith is willing to follow wherever Christ leads.

So this week...

When you see a dragonfly...

Don't simply admire its beauty.

Let it remind you:

God is still guiding.

God is still redirecting.

God is still opening new doors.

And wherever Christ leads...

There is always life waiting on the other side.

Amen.

Prayer Following the Sermon

Gracious God,

Thank You for speaking to us through Your Word and through the beauty of Your creation.

When life changes suddenly... Help us trust You.

When doors close... help us believe You are opening others.

When our plans unravel... Remind us that Your purposes never fail.

Teach us to be people who listen before we rush, who pray before we panic, and who follow before we fully understand.

Give us dragonfly faith— a faith that remains flexible, courageous, And always attentive to the leading of Your Holy Spirit.

In Christ's name.

Amen.