Biblical Teachings: Exploring the Word of God.

Unexpected Hope

I have been thinking about the ways that God comes and surprises us in the most unexpected ways to meet our needs.

I think about how Jesus came along and unexpectedly healed the man in Bethesda who was waiting by the pool for someone to put him into the water. He had no idea that day it would be Jesus; God in the flesh Himself, who would reach out and touch him in person. (John 5:1-9).

I am reminded of how Jesus came walking on the water in the storm to the disciples in the middle of the night, after He had stayed behind on the mountain top to pray. They certainly didn’t expect Him to show up without a boat much less walking on the water lol. But there He was, His eyes had never left them. (Matthew 14:22-33).

When I read about Jesus appearing in the room through the wall to the disciples, who were locked inside from fear, and see how Jesus just pops His head inside like here I am lol, easing their fears, it seems almost comical or ironic in a way and yet so tenderly too. (John 20:19-23).

We see how Jesus shows up cooking fish by the seashore making breakfast for them. I love this! Can you imagine the creator of the universe/God himself cooking for you? This is like a playful surprise to me while at the same time we can see Jesus servants’ heart in providing for their physical needs and also like a loving parent at a time when they were weary from their labors. (John 21:1-14).

We see the way Jesus shows up to the two men walking on the road to Emmaus, asking them questions but not revealing himself to them is yet another way that I see him being both playful and inviting while teaching them the deep truths of God too. Like a loving parent does, keeping it interesting. (Luke 24: 13-35).

And the way He came to Thomas in is doubt, inviting Him to touch His wounds,

“Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side;” this speaks volumes about the way Jesus’ tender compassion and kindness deals patiently with us in our doubts. (John 20: 26-29).

When I think about each of these things I see how God/Jesus delights in surprising us in ways like with a playful innocence with us. I love the way we are able to envision His personality, sense of humor, innocent playful tenderness; deep love, compassion & understanding. How we are able to get a peek into the heart of God as He interacts with His children in this way.

Just like we love to surprise our children & delight in seeing their happy expressions and gleeful moments. Like a kid on Christmas morning. Can you imagine how eager He is to show/share Heaven with us? How He longs and waits for us to be with Him where He is at? Imagine His face when we see Him and we lock eyes with Him for the first time. We know that Heaven will be filled with joy & laughter beyond what we can conceive. We could get lost just thinking about it. We can see the Father heart of God in Jesus’ actions – “He who has seen Me has seen The Father” Jesus didn’t immediately reveal himself to Mary either, there was that element of surprise with her at the tomb too. So often God has come to me in the most tenderly surprising ways in my sorrow and grieving. There’s something very deep and personal about the way God comes to us in our sorrow that is very unique and yet so God at the same time. In each case we see how He revealed something about Himself and about the Fathers heart as well. (John 20: 11-18). Mary’s hope had died but her love had not. She wasn’t expecting it to be resurrected. So many times/ ways God has resurrected our hope in our circumstances; trials, hardships or sufferings. But imagine the resurrected hope in our grief and loss. The Master, Creator, designer and builder prepares a place in Heaven for us. He comes to us in the midst of our storm, He meets with us in our fear and doubts, He reveals His heart to us through His word. And He comes to us when we are all alone, needing healing and comfort. We have the same powerful deliverer in our storms, the same reassuring presence, compassionately comforting and caring for us as they did in theirs. Yesterday, today and forever He is the same. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1). What challenges are you facing? Be encouraged today, God is able to meet those needs in the most surprising & unexpected ways.