The title phrase refers to a situation where you struggle to do something to no avail. It generally refers to trying to do something that you shouldn’t do. The apostle Paul was found to be kicking against the goad when he was persecuting Christians before he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. Jesus asked Paul why he was persecuting His people. Paul could only ask, “Who are you Lord?” After he found out the truth and that he had been so wrong, Paul’s life completely changed. In fact, even his named changed from Saul to Paul at this time.
I think we do this all the time. We have something we want to do. We struggle and struggle, wondering why we can’t get it done. Perhaps we should take a step back and see if God has something else in mind. Maybe he has a better way of doing the same thing, or maybe he wants us to do something entirely different, like Paul.
For instance, our church , like many others, has not gathered together for services on Sunday for over three months. Instead, services have been online. This in and of itself is already on adaptation. We were supposed to come together for the first time this Sunday. However, the county government issued new restrictions and the regathering of the church was delayed. That’s probably a good decision.
But this has me thinking that we may be kicking against the goad in trying to restart doing the same things we always did. Could God be saying, “I want you to do things differently”? Maybe more services, each with fewer people. Maybe use satellite campuses to spread people out. Maybe house churches. I don’t pretend to know the answer, but I do believe that we need to consider new ways of doing church.
“The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” Proverbs 16:1-3 ESV
Reluctant Retiree 