1 Thessalonians 3:11 – May He Direct Our Way

11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, be directing our way to you!

Paul longed fervently to see the Thessalonians again. Night and day, he pleaded with God to be able to go to them. Yet he knew that his desire and efforts were not decisive. That is why he now writes: “our God and Father Himself … be directing our way to you!” Paul knew his destination, but God had to direct the way there.

This was no theoretical idea. Earlier, Paul wrote that he had wanted to go to Thessalonica more than once, “and Satan hinders us” (2:18). He had therefore experienced that a planned journey could actually be blocked. Now he does not try to break through that obstacle himself. He entrusts his way to God. The verb kateuthynō means to direct: to ensure that something takes the right direction.

Remarkably, we find that same word in the Greek translation of Proverbs 16:9. A man considers his way, but God directs his steps. This is precisely what we see with Paul. He made plans and knew where he wanted to go. But considering the way is not the same as directing it. Paul did not determine his own course. He trusted that God would direct his way!

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