Expect the Unexpected

That is what my friend said to me on Wednesday evening just gone. She was praying for me and that is what she heard the Lord say “Expect the Unexpected”.

I have been pondering over these words since. The Lord is telling me to expect the unexpected.

I don’t think those words are just for me or that I am the only one that the Holy Spirit is speaking those words over. Perhaps the Lord is saying them to you too. Expect the Unexpected.

If I expect something that means I anticipate and believe without doubt that it will happen. I expect to receive my wages at the end of each month. I’ve worked for them so I have a genuine, well founded expectation that it will happen.

The unexpected though that’s another matter. These are surprise events, surprise happenings, new experiences. Things I don’t anticipate, understand or have experience of but I am to expect them to happen.

I don’t think I have an attitude yet of expecting the unexpected.

Lord help me to expect the unexpected. Let my faith arise to expect the unexpected.

I wonder if that was what Jesus taught the disciples. To expect the unexpected. Jesus’ followers certainly had a lot of unexpected encounters and saw a lot of unexpected things during their time with the Lord.

The 120 believers were expectant when they gathered in the upper room to receive the Holy Spirit as the Lord promised. I don’t think though they expected the Holy Spirit to come as a mighty wind of God, for tongues of fire on their heads and the gift of tongues to be given so that they would speak in other languages.

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4

The unexpected may also be frightening and painful. The violent storm that arose on the lake, the contrary wind- that was unexpected to the disciples. Not to Jesus. He was asleep in the boat. He rose, rebuked the storm and restored peace. The attacks of the enemy may come unexpectedly to us but not to the Lord. He has us covered. No weapon formed against us will prosper. The Lord has equipped us and given us authority to rebuke demonic spirits and the works of the enemy.

The betrayal of Judas. That was painful, unexpected to the disciples but not to Jesus. He had warned them ahead that one would betray him from their number. Did they believe it. Did they expect it to lead to Jesus’ death on a Cross. Did they expect the glorious resurrection that followed.

Expect the unexpected.