For the early Church, it was a time of abundant blessings and growth.
Even though they were under persecution and had difficulties, there were signs and wonders and people joined the Church even though it was rather dangerous to do so.
There were also unexpected surprises and the Church also learnt that God's ways are not man's ways and it may also not be the way the Church thinks.
Saul, before he changed his name to Paul, was there at the martyrdom of St. Stephen and he totally approved of it.
He even became one of the dreaded persecutors of the Church, arresting Christians and throwing them into prison, which was as bad as a death sentence.
The Church would have certainly prayed to God for protection from such a blood-thirsty persecutor.
But the Church may not have expected Saul to be converted suddenly and go on to become one of the greatest missionaries of the Church.
The Church learnt that God's blessings are more abundant than can be expected and that God's ways are so wonderful that He can change anything bad into something good and for His purposes.
This feast of the conversion of St. Paul tells us that people and situations can change.
We don't have to take things into our own hand. We just have to put it into God's hands through prayer, and wait for signs and wonders and even unexpected pleasant surprises.