God’s Not Surprised
Is there anything that surprises you, God? Anything that catches you off guard? That you weren’t expecting? Does anything happen that you didn’t foresee since the beginning of time? Can anyone or anything touch me without your permission? Can something happen in my life that is outside the bounds of your control or allowance? Can circumstance or situation separate me from you?
Is there anything you do not know? Some knowledge that isn’t yours? Would you do it differently if you had more insight? Are you lacking the “big picture?” Do you not know what tomorrow will bring?
And Me - Do I have more insight than you? Am I wiser than God? Is my plan bigger and better than yours? Do I control and direct my own steps? Make my own paths? Did I create myself out of dust and design my own being? Am I the master of my soul and the crafter of my future?
NO.
There is nothing that surprises You. Nothing that catches you off-guard. Nothing that you didn’t see coming. Every step I take has been predestined since before time. As you knit me together in my mothers womb, you saw every life event. Every triumph and every disaster. Every high and every low. Your plan is bigger and better than my plan. Your plan is complete. Your plan has your glory at the center, not my own. Your plan is far above what my mind can conceive or my hands could achieve. You spoke the sun and moon into existence, you placed the stars strategically in the sky and gave each a name. You’ve numbered the grains of sand on the beach, the hairs on my head. You are God; and just like the sun, the moon and the stars, you have spoken a purpose over my life, strategically positioned me and named me “Loved” and “Called”.
The truth is, you owe me nothing. You are Holy and I am not. From birth, my sin separated us and destined me apart from you for eternity. But your love….your incredible and perfect love… you spilled it out for me on a tree. You saw everything about me, my grandest mistakes, my life’s worst regrets and still you paid the price for me. You forgive me again and again and again. You have given me a new hope, a new destination, a future that I could never have attained on my own. You alone made it possible.
So what more could I ask of you? For I have nothing of value to bring to a God who created and owns everything. What would impress you? What could catch your gaze or make you pause? What could I lay at your feet to adequately say “Thank You” for your goodness towards me?
I’ll give back what you’ve already given me. My life. Here, take it back and make it yours. Mold it and shape it and bend it as you would. Fix all the crooks I’ve made in my own selfish and vain efforts. You grant me every breath and every day is a blessing from you. Your sovereign hand has put a beginning and end to my days. Make them count.
I cannot see the future and I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but you do. My heart is humble, my hands ready, my ears listening and my eyes watching. Speak to me. Move around me. Show me what is next. Embolden my spirit to step into what’s next. Quiet my anxious thoughts and fill my mind with your Truths. For your ways are higher, your plan is grander, your purpose is perfect and your lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life. You are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. So come what may, I’m following you.
