I like to tease Jo. Sometimes I know I really get on her “last nerve.” One of Tami’s students once her: “Miss Grandi. Are we getting on your last nerve?” 🙂 Yeah, that would be me with Jo.
Anyway, as I was saying, I like to tease Jo. One of those times is when she was watching a Hallmark movie-whether it is the two-month-before-Christmas-movie-marathon or even now. There is a word which describes those movies:
Predictability.
I bug her (not because I chit chat while she is watching the movie or I ask half way through what is happening), but because I tell her what is going to happen. This guy and girl will meet at a lodge or some vacation spot (they like resorts). They might know each other from the past. They will start having feelings for each other but then one will have a close friend (sometimes someone they soon plan to marry) who will get in the way. One will leave but that in the last 10 minutes or so will show up at the shindig. They will realize they have fallen in love with each other and kiss and live happily ever after…or so we assume.
Predictability.
There might be a variation or two depending on the story line, but ultimately they all come down to a couple falling in love.
We like predictability…to some extent. I tend to think it could get boring having the same old same old day in and day out. My vote is for variation, for unpredictability, for adventure, for not knowing.
Have you ever given some thought to our lives as Christ-followers? How important is variety? Truthfully, we should be used to unpredictability by now. We serve a God who might be “the same yesterday, today and forever” and never changes, but the way He works is priceless. There is no “one size fits all.” Nor does He operate the same way each time. Sometimes it is a gentle tap on the window. Sometimes it is in the storm. Sometimes it is in the clear and gentle breeze.
And one thing is sure: no matter how He works, the most predictable part of it all is that He loves us and wants the best for us.
“Father, thank you for being You. Thank You for being both predictable in Who You are, and yet unpredictable in how you will work. Help me to see it as part of Your loving plan.”
Oh, wouldn’t it be nice to once-in-a-while have a Hallmark ending to things…I must admit that would be really nice.
But…
Abba, I thank You that Your response to any given situation is as unique as Your Creation, yet tailored perfectly for each one.
Yes it would be Diane. But then again, where is the challenge in that? And the excitement He brings.
The one thing we can be sure of is that nothing is unpredictable from God’s perspective. His playbook is inexhaustible, undepletable, without end.
Nothing that we can throw at Him will take him by surprise and there is no limit to the ways He can turn things around for His glory and our good.
It is nice to know that we have a God that knows no bounds, has no limits, and exceeds all expectations.
You said a mouthful Ryan. I’m going to let your words speak for themselves.
That reminds me of this quote, which hit me like a ton of bricks:
“Beloved, we are continually learning to live in the paradox of God. To know that He is consistent, but also unpredictable. He’s consistent in his nature. You always know where you are with God, but you seldom know what He’s going to do next, but you always know where you are with God. Because He never changes. Because the glory of God is the nature of God – that God is good. He is consistent, the most consistent person ever. So, beloved, you cannot find security in what God is doing, because God commits you to the impossible; He asks you to see the invisible; He calls you to do the outrageous. There is no security in that place. There is no security in what God is doing. There is only security in who God is.” – Graham Cooke
I LOVE that quote Daniel. I’m so glad you shared it. Knowing God is consistent even though things around aren’t is worth it. Thanks for the comment.
I can’t add a thing to Dan’s comment above, Bill. It’s spot on!
Blessings!
Totally agree Martha!