When God Isn't Surprised

When I was a kid, I worried a lot about the "end of time".  Growing up in a different religion, there was a lot of emphasis put on "going to hell" if you didn't follow the straight and narrow of the rules.  

Then as I've gotten older,  I understood that it wasn't fear that should make me seek Jesus, it was love.  

This past year has been something that many of us have never seen in our lifetimes.  The unrest, the uncertainty...it's just been a lot.  

I could spend this entire blog railing against what I believe is fraud that will change the course of the voting system of this country forever,  that is going on RIGHT in front of our eyes, but instead I'm going to be what Jesus would want me to be and just speak some truth.

I've been trying to read through the bible this year, and I will admit, I have been super distracted.  I hit and miss, but this week, I gave  myself a sabbatical off of my most favorite social media app, because I was starting to act like someone I have not been in a long time, and picked up the bible instead.  

This day's reading landed me in Acts 16-18.  If you're not familiar with the bible, Paul is one of the biggest writers of the new testament.  His accountings of his journeys are comprised in many of the books in the NT.  Two things that stuck out in my head and made do a double take: (and I put these in Laura language, so show me some grace here)   Paul's about to go out on his second journey to spread the gospel of Jesus.  Now you have to know, he's not a super popular fellow with the Jewish (or any, if we are being honest) leaders.  In the first example, Paul is trying to speak and a slave girl that is demon possessed keeps interrupting him and he gets so tired of it, he calls on God to cast the demon out of her.  Well this doesn't make her the money making fortune telling machine she was, so they grab Paul and take him in front of the council and tell them that he is teaching things that are against "roman views".   They beat him and throw him in jail, where he spends the night singing worship songs. In the 10 cent comic store version, God makes the gates fly open and the guard gets saved. (you really should read it for yourself though because it's good stuff)   Paul continues on... and in the next city, the Jewish leaders become so enraged they (Acts 17:5) "Jewish leaders were jealous, they gathered some worthless fellows from the streets to form a mob and start a riot."   Now that sounds vaguely familiar.  

Here is the deal.  God isn't surprised by any of this.  NOT.  ONE.  BIT.   We want to be outraged and stomp our feet and scream for justice, but remember this, God is allowing this.  

I can't tell you how long and hard I prayed, crying and pleading with God to spare Laynie.  I begged for her life to be spared every day.  I didn't want her to die.  But God took her anyway, and it wasn't about her dying that was the story, it was how she lived.  And how she changed me, and in changing me, I shared her story and changed countless others.  

And now look at what a tiny baby that never spoke a word did.  She gave me insight and perspective to be able to help me get through what we are facing.  

Perspective is the most important thing we can keep in our tool belt right now.  You have to remember every single day that God is not surprised by any of this.  This country will be in more need of prayer and believers than ever before.  We are all going to have to put on the armor of Christ and live in it.  Oh my goodness, the weight of that armor!  It's all consuming.  But it is also, the most freeing way to live.  If you don't wrap yourself in the ways of the world, and keep your eyes on the prize of Jesus Christ, the armor becomes protection, instead of a weight.  And we all need to be wrapped in it, in the world that is coming.  

I don't feel like a worthy witness, but all I know is God wakes me up early and tells me these things.  He has me seek out people to call and text message to hear the truth.  He gives me words (when I truly don't think I have them) to encourage people and to speak truth into them.    

So go out and be a light.   There is so much division and unhappiness and bitter feelings.  I suffer them constantly.  I want to rail at the injustice.  But instead I'm going to seek truth and peace and try to help others find truth and peace.  

Put it in your hearts,  God isn't surprised by any of this.