Not What We Expected

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Not What We Expected

Friday, December 6th, 2013 by Lori Roeleveld 2 Comments

It was Christmas.

Rob and I had been planning our wedding for weeks

so the decision had been made

but still, I had no ring.

Under the tree

there was a gift the size and shape of a ring box.

No surprise there, really.

But when he presented it on Christmas morning

With all the anticipated “ta-da!”

It wasn’t what I expected.

Oh, it was a ring

But it wasn’t an engagement ring.

It was an amethyst and it was lovely

But it wasn’t what I expected.

So it left me grateful but

Confused

Off- kilter

Thrown for a loop.

The Messiah, too, had long been expected

And the build up was like that of an anticipated super-hero.

He would come

And He would deliver them from all oppression

And lead them into glory.

When that kind of press precedes a guy

A certain expectation is built,

People get a picture in their heads

And that’s what they look for.

Not a baby.

A baby isn’t a deliverer

A baby doesn’t save people

When trouble comes

No one says, “Quick! Maybe the baby can get us out of this!”

It was clear from Isaiah that someone powerful was coming:

“For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.”

And God was clear the package that would arrive:

“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” Isaiah 9:5-6

But certainly that was symbolic, right?

There’s no way He’d send an actual baby, right?

God created us to appreciate the unexpected, to be delighted by surprise, to revel in a solid plot twist

And He doesn’t disappoint.

But He does catch us off guard

And leave us bewildered for a time

With His ways.

Fortunately, His baffling plot-twists always lead to a significant payoff in the end

Like Jesus.

So if life is twisting for you now,

Know that you can trust Him with the unexpected.

Come, thou long expected Jesus,

born to set thy people free;

from our fears and sins release us,

let us find our rest in thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation,

hope of all the earth thou art;

dear desire of every nation,

joy of every longing heart.

2. Born thy people to deliver,

born a child and yet a King,

born to reign in us forever,

now thy gracious kingdom bring.

By thine own eternal spirit

rule in all our hearts alone;

by thine all sufficient merit,

raise us to thy glorious throne.

2 Comments

The Conversation

Lady in the Loge says:

December 6, 2013 at 12:01 pm

Just the kind of unexpected turn of events I’d like to experience.
Thanks for the encouragement to keep look up as I move along this twisting path.

Reply
Judith Robl says:

December 6, 2013 at 12:37 pm

I am so enjoying your advent thoughts. They illuminate and challenge. Thank you so very much for being a moment of perspective in what has been a very uprooted season in my life.

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