When the Unexpected Happens

It seems like just yesterday that Harvey was making news and wreaking havoc on Houston. Now, we are still dealing with remnants of Florence in the Carolinas. Unexpected circumstances can rock our soul, even the most fearless of people. 

You can be certain, that sooner or later, something will enter your life that will be totally unexpected. If nothing comes to mind right now, you may not be intrigued about the topic at all. However, if you’re in the midst of the "unexpected" you know how it can mess with your mind.

Personally, I prefer to live in light of what I "expect" to happen. I like consistency. Order. Plans. The unexpected circumstances, I’d prefer to avoid:

Sickness
Hurricanes
Career transitions
Floods
Lack of provision
Flat tires
Betrayals
Disappointments

We all have a little "control freak" in us. That’s why we need to let the One who controls ALL things deal with the "unexpected" in our lives. You may be living a calm, cool life today, but here’s what can be for sure: The "unexpected" comes when you least expect it.

How do you silence the voices of fear and insecurity that creep in during the unexpected? My response is pretty expected. God is always, always, always willing to be our anchor in the pinch-yourself-good-times AND the not-so-nice-challenging times.

"God wants us to learn how to accept every unexpected event as an invitation to trust Jesus and his Word, to expect his goodness all the way through. A life lived like this is one of the most powerful forces on the planet- because there’s a momentum of courage and faith that propels us unto new places." (Christine Caine, Unexpected, pp. 35)

Here’s just a small sampling of what we can expect from God: (Caine, pp 34)
We can expect that his grace will be sufficient for us. 2 Corinthians 12:9
We can expect God to care for us. 1 Peter 5:7
We can expect God to be our very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
We can expect the Lord to provide all we need. Psalm 23:1
We can expect God to make a way where there is no way. Isaiah 43:16
We can expect our giants to be defeated. 1 Samuel 14:47

If you are in the middle of the "unexpected" be encouraged! God’s promises are true. If you’re not, reach out to someone who is in the middle of the "unexpected." You can be the hands and feet of Jesus to them today.

"Those who trust you will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD." Psalm 112:7

"No matter what, expect the unexpected. And whenever possible be the unexpected." Lynda Barry

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.When