See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. – Isaiah 43:19
What happens when the unexpected comes? Do you embrace it? Do you run away? Do you question it? Whatever your reaction is, everyone experiences the unexpected multiple times throughout their lives.
There is no way we can avoid the unexpected. As much as we would like to think that we are in control, the reality is that there are things we can never control. Weather, natural disasters and what other people do are some of the things we can’t change or influence. Sure, we can try to make people do what we want them to do but, in the end, the choice is still theirs and not ours.
Even when we think we are in control, changes come to our circumstances that we don’t see coming. We have health problems, or the economy hits a downturn that ends with you losing a job you thought you would keep forever (or at least for as long as you like). No matter how much we think we are safe, there will be always something that will change that.
When the unexpected does come, God expects you to come to him. In fact, God expects and hopes that you will come to him before anything happens. A lot of people turn to God when times get rough and then totally forget about him when they are over it. No matter how bad the unexpected is. God is always there to help you through, and he hopes that you will stay with him.
However, the unexpected may not always be bad…it may be a good or even great. You get a financial windfall, or you finally fulfil a lifelong dream. Whatever it may be it changes your life forever. You begin to expect more of the unexpected and not to dread it. Expecting the unexpected becomes a new way of life.
Whether the unexpected is a good or bad thing, one thing is for certain God is the god of the unexpected. He brings about circumstances in our lives that will benefit or contrary to popular belief, not harm us but to makes us and our faith stronger. God may need to bring the unexpected to bring you to him.
There will be opportunities that we could have never dreamed or thought of, but God did. Bad things will come unexpectedly but we don’t have worry if we keep our focus on God. What we must do is be ready for whatever may come, the good and the bad.
All we need to do is to expect the unexpected and to make sure that God is part of whatever we do when it comes – whether it is to ask him for help or to thank Him. No matter what the unexpected it is, we will grow and benefit from it and that is all that God really wants us to do.
Originally published August 2018