Not What We Expected

Not What We Expected

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord:  and he delighteth in his way.

Psalm 37:23

Has life ever surprised you?  You find yourself in situations or encountering circumstances and think to yourself, ‘Well, this is not what I expected.’ Probably all of us have thought or perhaps said this from time to time.  Our text says, ‘The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.’  This is a hard concept for us to embrace, especially when we find ourselves in those ‘not what I expected,’ situations.  We see from the scriptures that this has been the common experience of the people of God throughout history.  Abraham did not expect to have to leave his family in Haran and to go out to a land which the Lord promised him.  Joseph did not expect to land in the pit, in Potiphar’s house as a slave, in prison, as one falsely accused; or in the palace as the Prime Minister of Egypt.  Moses did not expect to return to Egypt as the liberator of Israel.  The fisherman of Galilee did not expect to become the disciples of Christ or the Apostles of the New Testament.  Yet over all these personal histories we can write the words, ‘The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.’  Over all our personal histories we can write that same statement.  Life may occur with many unexpected events, yet God’s plan and purpose in conforming us to the image of Christ has ordained all these things, and will use them for our good and for His glory.

Our Wise and Gracious God,
we rejoice that You rule over all of our affairs.
We praise You that nothing surprises You,
and that You see our end from the beginning.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning