Expect the Unexpected
Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 40:1-11; I Corinthians 1:1-9
In a recent Daily Bread devotional, there’s a story about a pastor preaching as an artist begins a painting off to the side. Unexpectedly, the minister walked over and made a thick black streak across the middle of the canvas; the congregation gasped at the ruined canvas. But the artist had a vision of how to redeem the unexpected, offensive mark, and transformed the mess into an exquisite work of art. God is like that artist: He sees and knows how to redeem what seems ruined.
My message this morning is that God’s followers should expect the unexpected. In our first Scripture lesson we get the surprising news that before Isaiah was born, God chose him to be Israel’s prophet; he gifted him, protected, and strengthened him. Isaiah’s ministry was very difficult; he became deeply discouraged and told God he’d used up his strength. He was also convinced he hadn’t made a difference.
He was at a very low point in his life, a place most of us have been as well.
We may feel there’s no hope. What had felt promising was not going to happen. Something good we saw in our future would never become a reality. Have you ever sat with that sort of stark realization? Isaiah did – he struggled but He brought his fears and exhaustion to God. One day Isaiah felt hope return… soon after, fresh faith filled him and he was able to trust in God again. He regained the ability to see God’s vision that His people would be a light to the nations. Isaiah reminds us that there are times when we all lose hope and can feel uncertain about the future. But just like the master artist who had a marred canvas, we need to remember that with God, we can and should “expect the unexpected”. God will either increase our strength and faith – or change our circumstances. Either way God helps us go the distance.
I have a “show and tell” object lesson for us to help us remember that there are surprises God orchestrates, for our good and to His glory. Here is a box, medium in size. One similar to this contained a gift, a beanbag chair. Grandparents got it for their young grandchild. When it was taken out of the box it was a deflated piece of cloth, but thanks to technological advancements, the instructions said that when shaken it would expand, plump up, and be a comfy place to sit.
I never imagined such a possibility, but then I saw it with my own eyes. So, what do you think the final size was of the beanbag chair? Would you believe it turned out to be this size? (Show a medium sized bean bag chair) That’s an amazing size; I’d say it qualifies as “unexpected”! But what if I said - that’s NOT the beanbag that came out of this size box? The actual beanbag is THIS HUGE ONE.
When I first saw this, my instinct was to laugh. It felt like a magician’s trick. It’s “ginormous,” at least twice as big as anything I ever sat in. Let’s remember this object lesson: when God is involved in our lives and world, we should always be ready for surprises, “to expect the unexpected”. (By the way, this beanbag chair has been donated for our next rummage sale – it can be yours to enjoy!)
Another man God chose to use was the Apostle Paul. As he shared his faith in connection with others, he was in constant danger. He faced hostility and stoning from Jews who argued that Jesus was not the Messiah. He was beaten, shipwrecked, unlawfully imprisoned, and more, but Paul remained full of hope. He exuded confidence, inspiring people through letters and in person. Do you think our world today needs people like Paul? He was open with people about the source of his resilience, joy, and faith. Paul explained that he anchored his hope in God who is trustworthy.
The word hope, whether used as a verb or a noun, in the Old Testament or New, has been described as “a confident expectation that is based on the nature and work of God, past, present, and future.” (Don’t Look Back, Will Willimon, page 14). Biblical Hope means we’re dependent on God’s faithfulness and goodness. Paul told the church in Corinth that “if all we have is hope in ourselves and our efforts, we have no real hope” (1 Cor. 15:19). Self-reliance won't get us far in life, will it?
So, are you anchoring your hope in God each day? Do you move through your week “confidently expecting that God, who is faithful and good, will give you resilience, joy, and faith? If you do, people will see that in you, and want to discover how they too can live a hope-filled life.
The third Scripture for today was written by David. In verse one of Psalm 40
David reveals the theme for his message: “I put all my hope in the Lord.” Do you think that David started out that way? Did Paul, or Isaiah? Each man had to learn to put all their hope in God… they did so especially in and through times of trouble, fear, and uncertainty. David wrote that God leaned down to him and listened to his cry for help, then God lifted him out of the pit of death, a place of mud and filth. He rescued him, setting his feet on solid rock, then put a new song of joy in him.
While you and I might not identify with falling in a dark pit where we fear we'll die, can you relate to praying and asking God to help you when you’re in crisis? Do you thank God when you're back on solid ground? When God is the ground of our hope, it makes all the difference.
David goes on to say, “whoever puts all their trust in God will be content” in life. Do you believe that’s true? He also says we’ll want to serve God and tell others what an amazing difference God makes in our lives. Something I’ve always appreciated about David is that he had his share of struggles and setbacks, but he was still described as a man after God’s heart. That is grace! He also knew that when he walked faithfully with God, the impossible became possible!
I want to leave you today with a prayer. It’s an expectant prayer, anchored in hope. Use it the next time you feel laid low with discouragement like the prophet Isaiah. Go to God with your bleak and hurting heart, but instead of saying, “Lord, I don’t know how I’m going to do this,” say, “Lord, I cannot wait to see how You will do this!”
Use this same prayer the next time you find yourself in a situation like the Apostle Paul’s. There are people who’ll insist they’re right and you’re wrong; they may even be aggressive about it. Go to God when you’re worn down by the divisiveness that surrounds you, but instead of saying, “Lord, I don’t know how I’m going to do this”, say, “Lord, I cannot wait to see how You will do this!”
And use this prayer when it feels like you’ve fallen into a pit, like David. You’re forced to admit how deep in the muck you are; you need God to help you get back on your own two feet. Instead of saying, “Lord, I don’t know how I’m going to do this,” say, “Lord, I cannot wait to see how You will do this!”
Thanks be to God, amen!
My message this morning is that God’s followers should expect the unexpected. In our first Scripture lesson we get the surprising news that before Isaiah was born, God chose him to be Israel’s prophet; he gifted him, protected, and strengthened him. Isaiah’s ministry was very difficult; he became deeply discouraged and told God he’d used up his strength. He was also convinced he hadn’t made a difference.
He was at a very low point in his life, a place most of us have been as well.
We may feel there’s no hope. What had felt promising was not going to happen. Something good we saw in our future would never become a reality. Have you ever sat with that sort of stark realization? Isaiah did – he struggled but He brought his fears and exhaustion to God. One day Isaiah felt hope return… soon after, fresh faith filled him and he was able to trust in God again. He regained the ability to see God’s vision that His people would be a light to the nations. Isaiah reminds us that there are times when we all lose hope and can feel uncertain about the future. But just like the master artist who had a marred canvas, we need to remember that with God, we can and should “expect the unexpected”. God will either increase our strength and faith – or change our circumstances. Either way God helps us go the distance.
I have a “show and tell” object lesson for us to help us remember that there are surprises God orchestrates, for our good and to His glory. Here is a box, medium in size. One similar to this contained a gift, a beanbag chair. Grandparents got it for their young grandchild. When it was taken out of the box it was a deflated piece of cloth, but thanks to technological advancements, the instructions said that when shaken it would expand, plump up, and be a comfy place to sit.
I never imagined such a possibility, but then I saw it with my own eyes. So, what do you think the final size was of the beanbag chair? Would you believe it turned out to be this size? (Show a medium sized bean bag chair) That’s an amazing size; I’d say it qualifies as “unexpected”! But what if I said - that’s NOT the beanbag that came out of this size box? The actual beanbag is THIS HUGE ONE.
When I first saw this, my instinct was to laugh. It felt like a magician’s trick. It’s “ginormous,” at least twice as big as anything I ever sat in. Let’s remember this object lesson: when God is involved in our lives and world, we should always be ready for surprises, “to expect the unexpected”. (By the way, this beanbag chair has been donated for our next rummage sale – it can be yours to enjoy!)
Another man God chose to use was the Apostle Paul. As he shared his faith in connection with others, he was in constant danger. He faced hostility and stoning from Jews who argued that Jesus was not the Messiah. He was beaten, shipwrecked, unlawfully imprisoned, and more, but Paul remained full of hope. He exuded confidence, inspiring people through letters and in person. Do you think our world today needs people like Paul? He was open with people about the source of his resilience, joy, and faith. Paul explained that he anchored his hope in God who is trustworthy.
The word hope, whether used as a verb or a noun, in the Old Testament or New, has been described as “a confident expectation that is based on the nature and work of God, past, present, and future.” (Don’t Look Back, Will Willimon, page 14). Biblical Hope means we’re dependent on God’s faithfulness and goodness. Paul told the church in Corinth that “if all we have is hope in ourselves and our efforts, we have no real hope” (1 Cor. 15:19). Self-reliance won't get us far in life, will it?
So, are you anchoring your hope in God each day? Do you move through your week “confidently expecting that God, who is faithful and good, will give you resilience, joy, and faith? If you do, people will see that in you, and want to discover how they too can live a hope-filled life.
The third Scripture for today was written by David. In verse one of Psalm 40
David reveals the theme for his message: “I put all my hope in the Lord.” Do you think that David started out that way? Did Paul, or Isaiah? Each man had to learn to put all their hope in God… they did so especially in and through times of trouble, fear, and uncertainty. David wrote that God leaned down to him and listened to his cry for help, then God lifted him out of the pit of death, a place of mud and filth. He rescued him, setting his feet on solid rock, then put a new song of joy in him.
While you and I might not identify with falling in a dark pit where we fear we'll die, can you relate to praying and asking God to help you when you’re in crisis? Do you thank God when you're back on solid ground? When God is the ground of our hope, it makes all the difference.
David goes on to say, “whoever puts all their trust in God will be content” in life. Do you believe that’s true? He also says we’ll want to serve God and tell others what an amazing difference God makes in our lives. Something I’ve always appreciated about David is that he had his share of struggles and setbacks, but he was still described as a man after God’s heart. That is grace! He also knew that when he walked faithfully with God, the impossible became possible!
I want to leave you today with a prayer. It’s an expectant prayer, anchored in hope. Use it the next time you feel laid low with discouragement like the prophet Isaiah. Go to God with your bleak and hurting heart, but instead of saying, “Lord, I don’t know how I’m going to do this,” say, “Lord, I cannot wait to see how You will do this!”
Use this same prayer the next time you find yourself in a situation like the Apostle Paul’s. There are people who’ll insist they’re right and you’re wrong; they may even be aggressive about it. Go to God when you’re worn down by the divisiveness that surrounds you, but instead of saying, “Lord, I don’t know how I’m going to do this”, say, “Lord, I cannot wait to see how You will do this!”
And use this prayer when it feels like you’ve fallen into a pit, like David. You’re forced to admit how deep in the muck you are; you need God to help you get back on your own two feet. Instead of saying, “Lord, I don’t know how I’m going to do this,” say, “Lord, I cannot wait to see how You will do this!”
Thanks be to God, amen!