A Nice Little Surprise

A good friend of mine has the habit of saying "Lord just surprise me!"  Simple yet profound.
Basically what he is saying is that no matter what circrumstances he is facing, whether a potentially good thing or very challenging, what he desires is to trust in the Lord to make a way through.  But not just make a way, as though God is only wanting to provide barely enough resources or creativity to the situation.  No.  What is being said here is soaked through with a strong belief and trust in a good God to provide abundantly for whatever the situation requires.
To say to God "just surprise me" is to recognize one's own limitations of not knowing what the best outcome may even look like.  We might not have a clue what needs to take place in order for God's best plans to come forth.  This is very important to remember because when we are right in the middle of circumstances, often we think we know best, especially if we are hurting.
Our God is a God of surprises, good ones, if we would just allow Him full access to our hearts and minds. 
There is a brief account in Luke 7 about a widow in an insignificant town called Nain.  It centers on a widow whose only son had just died and the funeral procession carried the son's dead body in a coffin.  Jesus saw this and realized that this woman was in dire straits because not having a husband or any male children in the family was disatrous in this era.  No protection, little if any income, not good at all. 
And the God of Surpises comes onto the scene.  It says in verse 13 that 'the Lord's heart went out to her'  and then he gently said to her 'don't cry'.  Well why not cry!!  She had just lost her last hope of any kind of quality life.  Couldn't this man see how terrible her circumstance was?  To say 'don't cry' is almost cruel. . . .
Unless. . .
Unless this man could see through the circumstance to something much better!
Jesus touched the coffin, told the young man to get up and life came back into him!  Then he gave the son back the mother.  Can you imagine what this would have been like to experience?
It says that everyone there was filled with awe and began to praise God.  No doubt!
Do you know that this same God who changed this woman`s circumstances is the same God who looks at you and says with gentleness 'don't cry'.  Jesus looks right through the things that you can't, and he never loses focus on what is most important.  He is never distracted to the point where he loses sight of you.

Is it time for a nice little surprise in your life?  Are you looking for your God to step in and help you through circumstances that are very trying?  If you are, then the first step you can take is to begin by trusting him.  Allow yourself to believe that God really does know what is best even if things seem totally bleak.  Remember the mom who was walking with her dead son in the funeral?  Do you think she thought things were pretty well hopeless?  There is always a way that God can make through.

The second thing you can do is believe that God's design for you is good.  Now this is a tough one--really tough, because the way that He makes for you might not look at all like you imagine, and there may be some pain involved.  Paul followed his God and he experienced major suffering for it.  But in the end it was good.

Yes, Jesus loves to surprise us with his blessing.  Sometimes it will look just like we imagine, other times it won't, but being in a place where we rest in him is a place where life will blossom.

Take some time today think about where you are at in life, and ask youself if it's time to begin to believe for some surprises.

BT