Let God Surprise You!

“To whom will you compare me?  Or who is my equal? says the Holy One” Often the intensity of life’s circumstances skew our view of God.  Lingering problems create doubt about the Lord’s ability to resolve our challenges.  In Greek, doubt means literally to possess two minds.  The left one greatly questions the Lord’s power to conquer our enemies.  In contrast, the right one remains steadfast that “God is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask or imagine.”  Which mind wins this battle?  The Lord asks, “Do I really have an equal?”

Despite the breadth and depth of adversity, the Lord encourages us to lift our sight to the heavens.  He suggests we ask, “Who created all these?”  We conclude the One with “great power and mighty strength” to hang more than one billion stars in their right places with separate solar systems and galaxies undoubtedly possesses the ability to handle our dilemmas. 

Faithlessness and cynicism emerge as an erroneous perception of the Lord.  In classical theological terms, God has four distinct and necessary characteristics.  He is all-powerful, all kind, all knowing and ever-present.  If God lacks any of these qualities, He is not the Sovereign of the universe.  Moreover, our skepticism justifies this misfortune as it limits His willingness and power.

Also, doubt and pessimism produce constant complaining.  Faith and grumbling cannot coexist just as light and darkness cannot simultaneously occupy the same space.  Accordingly, in Isaiah 40:27 the prophet asks the exiles, “Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God?”  Pity parties rarely lead to faith.  Although bleakness often obscures Almighty God’s presence, He remains interested in our intricate affairs.  However, if we persist in “moaning and groaning,” we will be unable to feel His presence and see His gracious and mighty deeds.

The prophet strongly recommends each exile recall stories they heard from their forebears about past mighty deeds of Almighty God.  Do you know the Lord of the universe who graciously makes an everlasting covenant with your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?”  In Isaiah 40:28 the prophet declares the Lord who made the “ends of the earth” does not grow tired nor does He become weary.  In fact, His modus operandi is mysterious and majestic; we cannot comprehend it.  Accordingly, we let Him surprise us.

In ways we least expect, God grants comfort as well as assurance of His abiding love and sustaining presence.  After analyzing problems, we quickly determine a “reasonable” solution.  We anticipate God’s response to correlate with our personal desires.  I once heard a great saying, “An expectation is a premeditated resentment.”  When we insist God acts in accordance with our personal preferences certain way and He does not, resentment rises to the point of skepticism.  Doubt eventually erodes our faith.

In Isaiah 40:29, the prophet recalls the divine promise of provision.  “He giveth power to the faint and to them that have mo might He increaseth strength.”  Should circumstances cause us to faint, God resuscitates us.  When we exhaust mental, spiritual and physical resources, we ideally receive the Lord’s power.  Our weakness transforms us into open vessels to receive the Lord’s strength.