Life is Full of Surprises
How do you handle life’s surprises? We cannot be prepared for every circumstance that arises in life, but we try to anticipate what we can and make appropriate plans. There are times, however, when we are surprised, and often in a distressing way.
When we find out one of our loved ones has been in an accident or fallen ill, it is often not expected. Sometimes a financial reversal is a surprise. Even more difficult is when we learn of a spiritual failure in the life of a person we believed to be a staunch follower of Christ.
As believers, we should “expect the unexpected.” Jesus told us that trials will come:
Matthew 7:24-27 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Will your house stand when the storms come? Or will you experience a “great fall”?
Both the wise man and the foolish man went through a storm. Just because we are followers of Christ, does not mean that we will get a pass when it comes to life’s surprises. A believer’s response to those surprises should be vastly different than the response of the person that does not have the Holy Spirit to comfort and the Word of God to guide. We should be doubly prepared, because not only have we been warned, but we have studied the Scriptures to learn how to handle life’s ups and downs. It is troubling to see Christians worrying in tough circumstances, but it is encouraging to see them handling it with the grace that God makes available to His children and with the peace that passes understanding!
Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.