Are you surprised?

It seems like there have been many people surprised by many things of late.  The election surprised quite a few.  How football teams have performed has surprised many.  Many have been surprised by the weather, certain people facing possible legal penalties, and steadily rising prices to name a few.

Benjamin Franklin is credited with the famous phrase, “Nothing is certain in this life but death and taxes.”  Though many people fully agree with his insight, it seems that he may only be partially correct.  However, he forgot something important that is recorded in Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

These next few weeks often are marked by introspection and dreaming.  As a year ends and another begins, we think about our successes and failures along with our high and low points.  It enables us to dream about the coming year and what we want to accomplish.

Since we cannot know what tomorrow holds, the surprises of life often make us pause.  Sometimes we are thrilled by changes that we did not expect, but sometimes we feel deflated by those changes.  We can plan and dream, but we know that something could happen that changes everything.  However, Jesus does not change!

Where is your hope?  Where is your peace?  What is your anchor in the storm?  Who can you trust without reservation?

Jesus knew that facing life and its surprises can be hard, but He gave us the stability that we need when He said in John 14:1, “Don’t let your heart be troubled.  Believe in God; believe also in Me.”  He does not change.

I have faced moments (like you) when I did not know what to do next, but I knew whom I trusted.  I cannot imagine facing life without the hope of Jesus, my Lord and Savior.  He holds my hand.  He dries my tears.  He points me in the right direction.  He keeps His promises.

Do you have that kind of assurance?

Many of you can remember (at some point) asking Jesus to save your soul, but are you holding onto Him tightly, or has He become little more than a crutch for you when you limp?  It is not He who has changed, so embrace who you once asked Him to be in your life.

Some of you have never really taken that personal step of faith – to become His child and follow Him.  I beg you to reconsider.  We may not know what tomorrow holds, but He holds tomorrow.  Trust Him.  Follow Him.  I and many others would love to help you discover how to do that.

Surprises happen, but we can face them if we face them with the Rock.

Consider reading the following book. It has great insight for the surprises of life…