Change

One of the first days of this semester, I prayed aloud to the Lord, “Surprise me.”

I’m not sure what kind of surprises I was expecting to receive, but surprise me He did (just a warning, in case you ever decide to conduct such a dangerous prayer).

My relationship with the Lord has often been a process of His Spirit steadily holding me through a time of transition. For me, change can be a slow and difficult process and I often view surprises in a bad light. But would it be wise for me to spend my life hoping that would God simply allow all of the little details of my life to fall into place the way I’d like to see it? Often my only wish is that I might secure myself in each moment by careful planning and prayer, hoping only that God might answer my requests and provide for me exactly as I believe fit.

Yet I know that my trust in the Lord is meant for more than just my moments of contentment—this trust is meant for me in times of great need, pain, and movement.

Just as I thought I had locked myself into some mundane semester of school, God revealed to me possibilities in my workplace and opportunities for leadership within my circle of fellowship, as my first round of surprises. Along with arising opportunities, however, He caused me to face change in friendships, as a dear friend of mine moved up her wedding by months.

I begged for the faith to trust in His great love for me, for I have noted that in past years anytime I have attempted to resist change, the strain proves more painful than the release and acceptance of transformation
that comes from adapting to change. For my final surprise of the month, the Lord opened up a door for me to take a trip overseas next year for my chosen graduate degree. All of these works I believe were accomplished by Him in an effort to reveal to me how low I had placed my expectations of His plans for my life.

My trust in the Savior of my Soul cannot be dependent on Him following my schedule. How much positive transformation and opportunity would I miss if I resisted my Daddy’s commands and desires for me? Surely so much glory for the Kingdom would be lost if the Church were constantly pinning the Lord to our schedules. His Life for us is beyond our understanding, and truly, beyond our lives on earth.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,
declares the Lord.
As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9