Surprised!

I used to be that gal — the Christmas gift sleuth. I’d carefully peel back the tape, take a peek, and rewrap like a pro. No surprise was safe. Honestly? I wasn’t a fan of surprises. Not then, and frankly — not always now.

Some surprises hit hard — like the falls that ended my pickleball career (may it rest in peace). Or the heartbreak of losing those we never imagined living without. Life can throw curveballs faster than we can duck.

I can’t help myself – Easter is still in my heart – and it reminds us of the greatest surprise in history that wasn’t wrapped in ribbons but in burial cloth. Jesus didn’t stay in the tomb. He rose!

Imagine Mary mistaking Him for the gardener, then hearing her name. Imagine the disciples, hiding behind locked doors — poof, there He was, peace in His hands and love in His eyes.

That kind of surprise changes everything.

Life’s university doesn’t hand out easy A’s. The coursework is tough, and the pop quizzes come when we least expect them. But God! He’s not just our professor — He’s the Master Mentor. Every moment — planned. Every lesson — personal. Every surprise — pre-approved.

Isaiah 46:10 anchors me: “I make known the end from the beginning. My purpose will stand.”

So, when surprises knock us sideways — a diagnosis, a pink slip, a call that changes everything — we can stand steady, knowing our Father is never caught off guard. He doesn’t need Plan B. He is the plan.

And while we may wonder, “Why now?” or “What for?”, God whispers, “Trust Me.” There’s no fortune cookie wisdom here, no flipping coins or desperately looking for a wishing well. God’s will isn’t a “hope so” — it’s a guarantee.

So, here’s how I roll now: I trust the One who sees the end from the beginning. I lean into the surprises, not because I like them, but because I know Who’s walking with me through them.

So, let’s lean in. Let’s ride the holy wave of His perfect plans, even when the waters get wild. Because the One who rose from the grave is still full of surprises — and none of them will ever catch Him off guard.

And — You and I? We are no surprise to Him.
And that, dear friend, is the sweetest surprise of all.
What a relief! Oh, what a Savior!