"And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them... And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely." -- Acts 16:10, 23

The idea that when God leads us there will be no hardship is quite erroneous. Maybe this comes from preachers that regularly serve up a prosperity gospel. Or it could be a basic desire to receive the crown without the cross. Trouble along the journey is not always a bad thing.

Paul waited for the clear leading of the Lord and believed he was to move on to Macedonia. Yet, shortly after they arrived Paul and Silas were inflicted with many blows and were thrown into prison. How could this be the will of God? Was this trouble really part of God's plan? 

We know that by the end of this visit there were historic decisions for Christ. We also know that great lessons have been taught throughout the years from this occasion. Trouble on the journey is often Gods plan and as Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:12, "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" and in Romans 5:3-4, "... we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope".