The Footsteps of Paul: I Saw God in the Sunrise

It was day six of our tour group’s pilgrimage to follow Paul’s footsteps. We had already spent a day in Athens and then three more cruising the Aegean Sea, docking for visits to the islands of Mykonos, Ephesus, Patmos, Crete, and Santorini.

Today started with a bus ride back to the Athens airport to fly northward to Thessaloniki. We ended this long day in a hotel in Kavala, once known as Neapolis. St. Paul landed at this harbor with his disciples, Timothy and Silas, as noted in the book of Acts.

“From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis."  (Acts 16:11 NIV)

Experiencing this setting and many other significant sites of Paul’s travels was surreal and covered me with goosebumps.

Still, weariness had set it. Scheduled to depart early the following morning for Philippi meant little sleep and a hustle to have luggage outside our door for pickup by a certain time. My belongings were unorganized; I felt less than put together.

My husband did his best to keep me on-task. With fifteen minutes to go, he hovered over me as I stuffed stuff haphazardly into my bag, ready to whisk it to the hallway. Not merely on time, mind you, but early.

When I belatedly realized I’d packed something I needed for the day, I snapped. “If you hadn’t rushed me,” I lamented, “I would have figured it out.”

His body language communicated no sympathy for me.

I cried.

Days of pent-up emotions resulting from not having time to recharge poured forth. I’m like my phone in that way. For optimal function, I require recharging and decompressing, like most introverts. And I was sitting at about minus ten percent.

I headed to the hotel lobby for both caffeine and distance from my husband—a heaviness tugging at my heart and my focus centered squarely on myself.  

It’s not supposed to be like this. Why can’t I be more Paul-like? Look at the hardships he endured on his journey to spread Christianity. God, where are You?

Turning into the alcove where the elevator was located, caused a quick inhale. A sliding glass door leading to a balcony perfectly framed a ribbon of the sun shimmering over the endless water. How had I missed this view yesterday?

The scene drew me like a magnet. Dropping my backpack on a bench without taking my eyes off the hope the sunshine promised, I slid the door open and stepped through, firmly embraced by God’s presence. My stress vanished, replaced by a deep, quiet peace.

“I am right here, child,” He said. “Come rest with me.”

And I did. I stood still for five minutes, breathing in the beauty, the wonder, the magic. God met me where I was. He knew just what I needed and when I most needed it. He orchestrated my steps to lead me to this sunrise at this precise moment.

As Paul wrote to the Philippians:

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 NLT)

It’s still true today. God meets all our needs, both spiritual and physical. Recharged, I turned to meet my day (and my husband) with a lighter step and an even lighter heart.

Encountering God

We don’t have to travel to Greece to experience God, of course. When have you felt God’s presence and seen His hand working in your circumstances? How has he supplied your needs recently?