Rejoice in the Unexpected

by Richelle Hecker

Trust God’s Plan.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link. 

I enjoy surprises. Some of you may be answering, “I hate surprises!” Maybe it frustrates you to have your schedule interrupted by an unexpected change, even a good one. Perhaps you have your twenty year plan all mapped out, with contingency plans in place as well. Interruptions are not invited, and unappreciated.

It can be frustrating trying to make plans when God won’t share His full plan with us up front! We can make our schedule with a mapped out timetable, but if we don’t know what God has in store for us we have to be ready for those things to change. God appears to love surprising us! He rarely gives us notice for the changes that occur in life. Often times we consider this a bad thing, either because we didn’t have time to prepare or because the change is something we never wanted.

Recently I received an unexpected bouquet of flowers. I had no idea something beautiful would arrive at my door, so it increased my pleasure ten-fold to find them there. This photo is a close up of one of the daisies. I look at it and see a piece of God’s creation that seems open to light, life, and love. This is how God wants us to be, open to receiving the gifts and plans He has for us. When we beg God to tell us His plan ahead of time, we are asking Him to forgo the joy of sudden blessings.

“However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him—”
1 Corinthians 2:9 New International Version

We know God’s ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not like our thoughts. The best blessing we received was a surprise from God. No one understood that Jesus, our Messiah, would enter this world in such a lowly state, live His life the way He did, and rescue us so completely from our sin by being treated as a criminal and crucified. Even His closest friends couldn’t imagine the glory of His resurrection! What appeared to be a terrible break in God’s plan turned out to be the most joyful surprise ever! When life stops going according to your plan, trust God and know He has glorious surprises prepared for you.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO

 

About Richelle Hecker

I am a mother of five, Army widow, speaker, podcaster and blogger. It is my desire to comfort others with the same comfort God continues to grant me.