“As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.”
— Acts 9:3 (NKJV)
There are moments in life that split time in two: before and after. For Saul of Tarsus, that moment came on the road to Damascus. What started as a mission of control and persecution ended in surrender and transformation.
And it all began with a divine interruption.
Before Damascus: The Zeal Without Light
Before he became Paul the apostle, Saul was a man of religious zeal. Passionate, educated, driven—and dangerous. He believed he was protecting the truth by silencing the followers of Jesus.
“Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples…”
— Acts 9:1 (NIV)
Saul wasn’t evil in his own eyes. He thought he was serving God. That may be the most sobering part of his story. It’s a reminder that we can be sincere—and still sincerely wrong.
How many of us have walked roads paved with good intentions, only to realize later that we were headed in the wrong direction?
The Interruption That Changes Everything
“Suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice…”
— Acts 9:3-4
God didn’t gently suggest Saul change course. He confronted him. A light from heaven. A voice that questioned his mission. A fall to the ground. Blindness.
God’s interruptions don’t always come when we’re ready. Sometimes, they knock us down. They challenge everything we thought we knew. They leave us blind for a time—so we can finally see.
And the voice said:
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
— Acts 9:5-6
No answers. No road map. Just a command: Go.
In the Waiting: The Work of Transformation
In Damascus, Saul waited. For three days, he sat in darkness. No sight. No food. No direction except to wait.
Sometimes transformation starts not with action, but with stillness. In the silence, God does deep work. He breaks pride. He untangles motives. He prepares hearts.
Meanwhile, God was also working on another man—Ananias, a believer in Damascus.
“Lord, I have heard many reports about this man… And yet the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine.'”
— Acts 9:13,15
God was not only transforming Saul. He was also challenging Ananias to step out in obedience, to extend grace to someone who had brought fear and pain to the Church.
Sometimes God calls us not just to be transformed—but to be part of someone else’s transformation.
The Power of Obedient Hands
Ananias laid hands on Saul. He called him “Brother.”
“Immediately something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.”
— Acts 9:18
And just like that, the man who once dragged believers to prison became a disciple. A preacher. A writer of Scripture. A missionary to the nations.
Only God can write a story like that.
What Is Your Damascus Experience?
We all have—or will have—our Damascus moments.
Maybe it’s a health crisis that shatters your illusion of control. Maybe it’s a season of doubt or loss that forces you to reconsider everything. Maybe it’s a call from God to let go of something you’ve clung to for too long.
God’s interruptions are rarely convenient. But they are always purposeful.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
— Romans 8:28
Your road to Damascus may look different. It might not involve flashing lights or audible voices. But the essence is the same: a moment when God intervenes, disrupts your plans, and invites you into something greater.
Stay grounded and guided,
Nishia 🧡