Surprised by Joy

Why am I surprised when God does amazing things?  A family at church has been in a battle with cancer since their young son was diagnosed with a brain tumor a year ago.  Friday they were back for surgery to remove a second tumor.  Prayer warriors all over the world are praying for this family.  Yet when Rex's mom posted that her son was being discharged from the hospital on Sunday; when his dad wrote about the doctor seeing Rex walking the halls Sunday morning, experiencing absolutely no complications from brain surgery that had taken place less than 48 hours previously; my reaction was, "WOW!"  I was surprised.  And I was immediately convicted.  Hadn't I been praying all week for God to do a mighty work?  Surprised by Joy could be the title of a book about my life too.

As I read Numbers 13:26-28, 31 I was reminded once again to trust the Lord to do amazing things.  A group of men returns to Moses and the rest of the people of Israel with their report on the Promised Land.  Yes, everything about it is awesome.  They even bring back some of its produce to prove what a great land it is.  But there is this problem that leaves them terrified.  Giants in the land.  "We are not able to go up against this people, for they are too strong for us," they report.  I do not have very many brave bones in my body.  There are things out there that terrify me.  I am not able to go up against them.  They are too strong for me.  All true statements.  Equally true:  God is bigger and stronger than any of them.

I have got to remember Whose I am.

I came to Revelation 3 in the rest of my daily Bible reading. To the church in Philadelphia He says, "This is the message from the One who is holy and true, the One who has the key of David.  What He opens, no one can close; and what He closes, no one can open.  I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close.  You have little strength, yet you obeyed My word and did not deny Me. (Rev. 3:7-8, NLT- emphasis mine)

The Lord knows how weak I am.  It does not matter.  What matters is my obedience, and I believe that part of obedience is trusting Him because He has said He is trustworthy.  My life is in His hands.  Whatever terrors are out there for me; my God is bigger.  Sometimes He opens a door, I take a peak, see that everything looks beautiful, and walzt right through it.  Sometimes when I take a peak it does not look so inviting and I hesitate to enter; sometimes I have a choice to back away, while other times I am thrust through kicking and screaming.  My prayer this morning is that I will not be afraid to go through any door that God opens, trusting Him with my life, knowing that He is able to handle anything that is beyond that open door.  And maybe someday I will not be surprised by joy, but totally expectant because of Whose I am.


Grace and Peace,

Deb



 I would love to hear about your own journeys. Feel free to share what God is teaching you, as well as your thoughts on my musings. May we grow in wisdom and understanding together.

                         Linking today with Shanda at A Pause on the Path for: