Expecting the Unexpected
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Psalm 105:4
Things didn’t go quite like I’d planned today. “Imagine that,” I thought. Well,
if there is one thing in life we can be certain of, it’s change. When our kids
were growing up, I recall feeling strongly about preparing them for change in
their lives, to understand the need to be flexible without compromising our
values and who we are.
The names for the Lord God Almighty, our triune God, are many in the Old
Testament scriptures. Among them are Jehovah Shammah, the God who is there. That
is one of my favorites. Also Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our banner, who goes before
us, and Jehovah Rohe, the God who heals.
My personal extra name for God is Jehovah Surprise, the God of the Unexpected.
Not that anything happening catches Him off guard. He’s not up in heaven,
looking down, exclaiming, ”Oh my goodness; look at that!” Rather, I’m the one
who is continually surprised by events and people.
There’s a saying, ”We make plans and God laughs.” And yet another saying, “Life
is what happens while we’re making other plans.” God may be full of surprises,
yet He is still in control, still the sovereign God of the universe, still on
His throne, the same yesterday, today, and forever.
The Lord’s love and faithfulness is about the only thing we can expect in the
midst of the unexpected. The good news is we can count on Him in our constantly
ever-changing world.
Sally I. Kennedy
Sally I. Kennedy is the author of Irish Thursdays: More Little Parables, Words
from the Heart, and 52 Little Parables from Ireland . She lives in south
Florida, with her husband Ben. Please visit her website at this address: http://www.sallyikennedy.com
Sally’s email: sallyikennedy@bellsouth.net