SURPRISE! Have you ever been surprised by your family or friends giving you a party when you did not expect it? Recently I was invited to a surprise party for a cousin who was turning sixteen. The date was planned for the weekend after her birthday so she did not suspect, and the look on her face when she walked in, as well as her beautiful smile all evening, let her family know they had succeeded with the surprise party.

Surprises can take many forms in life. Some, like a party, are enjoyable and leave us with memories for a lifetime. Others bring joy for a short time, such as meeting a friend from your past and reminiscing. Other surprises can be momentary and fleeting, like catching a glimpse of a beautiful butterfly or a hummingbird.

As I walk or ride around outside, I often see things in nature that can be unexpected, such as little creatures. With most of them I feel perfectly safe, but occasionally I am surprised. Recently, on our front porch light we had an unwelcome visitor, yes, the big black snake!! Even though this kind is not supposed to be harmful, I did not want to get close to it. Thank the Lord for cameras with zoom!

The zoom lens can also bring some surprises from the everyday things we pass by (or walk on). That tiny white spot in the picture proved to be this spectacular formation of lichen. If we look closely, we can see tiny little purple flowers or pinkish blooms in the clover, as well as colors and details in the green ground cover.

As wonderful as these surprises can be, there are some things that are not what we ever want, such as a phone call in the middle of the night, or unexpected results about our health. But even when these things come to us, let’s not be surprised to find that God is right there with us. He knows every detail of what we are going through.

There are many scriptures that reassure us of His loving care, even in times when we don’t feel His presence. God is good and He can be trusted in every situation. Turn to Him and you may be surprised by how He works all things for your good!

And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. (Romans 8:28 AMP)

Is. 41:10

Is. 43:1-2

Ps. 46:1-3