JOURNEYS: When God Stops Us in Our Tracks

New Ways Ministry offers a series of  scriptural reflections for LGBTQ+ people and allies, entitled “Journeys.” These resources are suitable for individual reflection,  for discussion with a spiritual friend or counselor, or for communal reflection in a parish, school, or other faith community.  

Today we debut a new installment for the series based on the story commonly referred to as “The Conversion of Saul/Paul,” found in Acts 9.

This reflective exercise is housed on the “Journeys” page of New Ways Ministry’s website.  There you will find a button to download the text in PDF format.  You can also persuse a few dozen other reflection exercises based on other scripture passages..

We pray that these resources will aid your personal journey with God.

When God Stops Us in Our Tracks

The conversion of Saul on the road to Damascus is among the most dramatic stories of Christian scripture. Over the course of three days, Saul transforms from the most-feared enemy of the Christian community to its most fearless preacher, Paul. This story demonstrates  the radical change that is possible when we listen to God’s voice.

At the beginning of Acts 9, Saul is on a quest to hunt and capture Christians. Just like the many vehement persecutors of LGBTQ+ people in our contemporary world, Saul’s intense hatred may have come from an internal struggle within himself. His conflict about rejecting or accepting Christ in his life mirrors that of people who espouse homophobic and transphobic rhetoric, only to later come out themselves. 

Until Saul was willing to face his own deep attraction to the message of Jesus, he lashed out against those who were living “the Way.,” as Christian life was then called. Once Saul allowed himself to embrace a relationship with Jesus, he made peace with himself and with the Christian community. Saul’s example shows us the tremendous potential for personal change when we are open to conversion. 

Woven into this story is another spiritual role model: Ananais, a disciple of Jesus who is understandably alarmed when God tells him to seek out and heal Saul. Why should he help the person sent to arrest him and his friends? Ananais trusts God’s reassurance that Saul is being called for a greater purpose. When he approaches Saul, he greets him as a brother and welcomes him to the Christian community. 

Saul and Ananais both show the power of transformation and the risks that come along with it. LGBTQ+ people and Alliesmay try to protect ourselves by keeping our guard up against homophobia and transphobia. At the same time, Christ invites us to believe in the power of transformation. We must be willing to change, and be willing to let others do so.

ACTS 9:1-21

Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

He said, “Who are you, sir?”

The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.”

The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus. For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.

There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.”

He answered, “Here I am, Lord.”

The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is there praying, and [in a vision] he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay [his] hands on him, that he may regain his sight.”

But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.”

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name.”

So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit.” Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength.

He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. All who heard him were astounded and said, “Is not this the man who in Jerusalem ravaged those who call upon this name, and came here expressly to take them back in chains to the chief priests?”

FOR REFLECTION:

1. Describe a time when God “stopped you in your tracks.” What change did it lead to?
2. After Saul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, he is temporarily weakened and impaired. Why do you think God allowed this to happen?
3.  Select a time when you have changed your mind about something or someone. How did others receive that change?
4. Have you (or someone you’ve known) acted in homophobic or transphobic ways while struggling with personal identity? What insight to that situation does this story offer?
5. Think of someone in your life who has undergone a major transition or change. How could you be part of their welcome or healing? What fears might hold you back?
6. Who do you relate to most in this story: Saul or Ananais? Why?

PRAYER

God, as I travel life’s road,

Open my heart to the grace of your transforming presence.

When I am blinded by hatred, fear, or prejudice, like Saul, may I always see your light;

When I am asked to aid others in the process of transformation, like Ananais, grant me the compassion and courage to welcome them as siblings in Christ.

Through the power of your Holy Spirit,

May we each embrace the truth and become the people you made us to be.

Amen.

AUDIO MEDITATION

Saul was first known to Jesus’s followers as a violent and hateful persecutor. However, after his conversion of the road to Damascus, he went on to preach about love and unity within the Christian community. Under his Roman name, Paul, he is credited with writing 1 Corinthians 13, the best-known reflection on love ever written. Through his conversion process, Saul transformed from a person of deep-seated hatred to an eloquent advocate for love.

Spend the next five minutes listening to the song “Road to Damascus” by Anne-Marie Lax. The lyrics pair the story of Saul’s conversion with quotations from 1 Corinthians. As you listen, pray for the grace of conversion from hatred towards love, for yourself and for others.

To listen to the song, click here.

–Ariell Watson Simon, New Ways Ministry, January 21, 2026

Consider Using JOURNEYS exercises as Your Lenten Reflection Resource

Suitable for use in individual reflections and for use in parish spirituality groups

This Lent, walk with our ancestors through the wilderness and discover your place in the Divine Story. New Ways Ministry’s JOURNEYS resource offers Scripture passages with reflection questions for each week of the Lenten season (this year we’re in Cycle A). These exercises can be used for individual reflection or for group discussions in parish settings.

Whether you’re fleeing from hardened Pharaohs, dancing with abandon, or praying with a heavy heart, these readings invite you to wrestle with God and not let go until you feel the divine blessing.

Each weekly reflection includes:

• Scripture passage
• Questions for personal meditation, journaling, or group conversation
• An invitation to celebrate your identity as a child of God and LGBTQ person or ally of faith
• A downloadable PDF for distribution in group settings

Ash Wednesday is February 18. Start your Lenten journey here.