I am the Lord; that is my name!
I will not yield my glory to another
or my praise to idols.
See, the former things have taken place,
and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
I announce them to you. (Isaiah 42:8-9 NIV)
Last Wednesday night before the service, our church had a (competitive) chili cook-off in order to raise money for a missions project. By the time I played for the service and listened to the sermon, I had forgotten the chili supper and was starting to think about going home. Suddenly the pastor called up “Brenda” to make an announcement. I almost fell out of my chair.
The last time “Brenda” and her husband were invited up to make an announcement, it was to share that they were expecting their sixth child.
The announcement of a SEVENTH child – especially since she’s told me they are done – would have been rather unexpected, to say the least.
I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized that this announcement was to be the winners of the chili cook-off. But, the whole moment gave me cause for giggles. In fact, later when I told her and her husband what I thought the announcement was going to be, we all had a good laugh.
God does things in unexpected ways, too. Last week my Bible Recap reading was in the first part of Acts, including the Pentecost story. You probably remember that after his resurrection and before his ascension, Jesus spent time with his disciples, teaching them more about the Kingdom. Just before he ascended into the clouds, he said, “Don’t leave Jerusalem, but wait here until you receive the gift I told you about, the gift the Father has promised. For John baptized you in water, but in a few days from now you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit!” (Acts 1:4-5 TPT)
Imagine being a disciple who has traveled with Jesus for three years. Almost everything he has done has been unexpected—miracles, healings, astonishing teachings, his death, his resurrection, and now his ascension. After he rises into heaven, you and the other disciples do exactly what he instructed: you wait in Jerusalem. You don’t know what you’re waiting for, only that Jesus gave you the assignment to stay and expect something.
For ten days, you gather together—praying, worshipping, fellowshipping, and even selecting a new apostle. And then, suddenly, something absolutely astonishing happens. Out of nowhere, the Holy Spirit comes upon you like tongues of fire, and from that moment on, your life is never the same again.
They waited. He moved.
When we actively wait on God – in worship, prayer, fellowship, etc. – we can trust that he will move. He will often bring us to unexpected places. God doesn’t bring us to places that are “bad,” but often they are surprises. These unexpected places can be some of the best blessings we have encountered.
Today, may we be people willing to go to unexpected places as we wait on God.
God,
Thank you for the gift of your holy surprises, and for the gift of laughter. Today we pray you will help us to be continually surrendered to your Holy Spirit so we can recognize the unexpected gifts you pour into our lives. May we be willing to go to unexpected places as we wait on you, our Lord. In Jesus’s name we pray, AMEN.
For when you did awesome things that we did not expect,
you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.
Since ancient times no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. (Isaiah 64:3-4 NIV)