Great Expectations

And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.

Mark 6:51

Canada has suffered its share of natural disasters in recent years, prompting the Canadian Red Cross to begin a preparedness program to help schoolchildren deal with sudden crises. The slogan is “Expect the Unexpected.”

In the Gospels, the disciples were often left slack-jawed and wide-eyed at Jesus’ behavior, His words, and His miracles. When He healed the paralytic in Mark 2, for example, “all were amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We never saw anything like this!’ ” (v. 12). They learned to expect the unexpected when they were with Him.

If you’re a disciple, you’re learning to expect the unexpected, for we never know what Christ is going to do next for us, in us, around us, or through us. It’s an exciting, adventuresome way to live. Discipleship is an experience that dispels boredom and keeps the Christian looking up in amazement.

Expect Him to answer your prayers and to overrule the problems of your life and cause all things to work together for good. Expect Him to open doors, create opportunities, meet your needs, and bless your efforts. Say with the psalmist, “My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him” (Psalm 62:5).