The Unexpected

What unexpected things have happened in your life? Were they blessings? Distractions? Frustrations? Miracles? Disasters?

It doesn't have to be something huge, but if you think about something that was unexpected in your life, you may feel a little bit of irritability around the situation, even if it turned out well. People naturally like to be in control, and they like to control everything around them as much as possible. The unexpected just proves how fragile our "control" is, even in our most familiar settings.

And yet those unexpected events may be the most tangible way that God is reaching into your life, getting your attention, and changing things from your idea of "good" to his idea of "best." Those unexpected events may be giving you a new opportunity that you would not have otherwise seen, or else it may be a test to your character and focus on your Creator rather than yourself.

No matter what the events are in your life are, we know that God is working for the good of those who love him, for the good of those people who want to be a conduit of God's grace.

Romans 8:28New International Version (NIV)

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

God doesn't just work through bad situations, but he does work through them. God does not rid the earth of all mistakes, but redeems those mistakes for our good and his glory. It is not always plain to see, but it is a comfort to fall into the hands of the living God, the One whom we are to "fear and love" according to Luther's explanation of the commandments. We may feel tired and worn from the things that we go through this side of heaven, but we are reminded that ultimately we are victorious in Christ. We are conquering heroes, and even more than that.

Romans 8:38-39New International Version (NIV)

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.