My title for this would be Predictable vs Unpredictable.

Have you ever been blown away by God?  Maybe a better way to say that is “Have you ever been surprised by God?” Now, a surprise can be both good and bad.

In today’s religious culture the influx and influence of bad (read: awful) teaching is myriad. One example is the demands made upon God by those who say, “Heal me God! I claim that!” They might as well be saying, “God I demand you heal me.” They are in for a surprise when they aren’t healed or they find out God cannot be bullied.

A good surprise is when God acts unpredictably and chooses to bless someone beyond their wildest dreams.

Here’s my take (so take it for what it’s worth. 🙂 ): God will never act contrary to His nature. He will never ask us to sin, for example. He will never be unloving. He will never be unkind. He will never be unmerciful.

But there are also times God is unpredictable. We never know how He’s going to act. Take, for example, Jericho. He told the people Jericho would fall and be theirs. But not how. Do you think in their wildest dreams they ever thought the walls would fall just because they walked around them? Do you think Gideon thought for one minute that God was going to take his band of 300 merry men and with only a shout, breaking a jar, blowing a trumpet, and shining a torch that the Philistines would turn on each other? God promised victory but never HOW.

I recently did a funeral for a man/friend whom we prayed diligently for. We laid hands on him and prayed. We petitioned God daily, but it was not to be. He lived 18 months longer than expected. He died well with a questioning but deepening faith. God was glorified. Was God present through his 3 year struggle? Absolutely. He chose to work in His own way. Unlike what we wanted, but one which would bring Him glory.

I echo Randall Arthur’s statement in his book, 46 Stones: “God has never asked us to put our faith in His predictability. Instead, He has asked us to place our faith in his ability.” (p.152)

Who knows how God will act? It’s just important to me to trust and know He will.

“Father, help me trust in You-Your character-and all that You are. Then help me to know that as you act You will surprise me with your unpredictability. All I know is You want me to have faith to know you will act.”