“God’s Timing”
by Keith Leach, June 2025

Acts 16:9 During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.

These words continue an odyssey that many people do not quite understand. No, it is not the odyssey of crossing over to Macedonia. It is rather how Paul trusts God’s “vision” that changed the entire scope of the planned missionary journey. Paul, who has already felt the guiding of the Spirit on many occasions, has a vision in his sleep and decides to leave the
planned trip and instead they follow what Paul feels is a commandment from God.

I often wonder how many times Paul felt what we would call the “leadings of the Spirit”? Throughout the book of Acts Paul seems to be ready to change the “game plan” and follow God’s leading on a moment’s notice. I believe that Paul, having been rather spectacularly introduced to Jesus by a big Spirit filled moment, knew the importance of following the
Spirit’s guiding no matter what “common sense” would tell. It takes prayers, trust, faith and experience to discern God’s true callings to us. It is hard work to get to the point of listening and following God’s call and directions for our lives. Yet it is crucial that we as Christians listen for those calls. Especially because it increases our trust in our Lord.

It was exactly that trust, and a very trusting spouse, that allowed me to change professions and become an ordained minister in my early 50’s. It has been a journey not only of faith, but also of extraordinary joy in seeing God’s work with me and with others. My time as the pastor of College Church has been a dream come true. Not only have I been able to meet many wonderful Christians and worship with them almost every Sunday, I have been blessed by God to spend this time in a place that is so dear to me. I was born here, baptized at College Church and my earliest memories are of this place.

However, God has now set me to another change in life. I will be retiring from the College Presbyterian Church at the end of May. My wife and I will be relocating. I am not entirely sure what retirement will bring because I have never done it before. However, God has shown me that God is trustworthy and follow along I will.