The Lord tells us in scripture that His ways are not our ways (see Isaiah 55:8) and yet we consistently assume He will do things according to our own expectations. We expect Him to answer prayers in the way we want, to handle situations and run His kingdom in ways that make sense to our perspective. Part of knowing Him, however, is recognizing that often He acts in ways we do not expect. Always in the best ways, but unexpected by us because of our limited sight and understanding.
Naaman expected the prophet himself to come to him, and to do some mighty thing to heal his leprosy. What he got was a servant with instructions to wash himself 7 times in an inferior (to his mind) river (2 Kings 5). To be healed, he had to choose to follow directions he did not understand or expect.
Nephi’s brothers expected that having been commanded to get the plates of brass, it must be an easy assignment. They faltered (and murmured) when they encountered obstacles to the task given (1 Nephi 3-4).
Members of Zion’s Camp expected to use force to protect their rights and escort the displaced saints back to their properties. Doubt and confusion (and complaining) arose in some of their minds when those expectations were not met (D&C 105).
Perhaps most tellingly, the Jews of Jesus’ time expected a deliverance from the bondage of Rome, in a show of might and power. Expecting what they wanted to happen, many missed recognizing the Messiah, the meek and lowly One, come to deliver them from far worse bondage. How much more they could have had if they had chosen to see what He offered instead of what they expected!
The Lord seems to be showing us, all throughout the human story, that He often does the unexpected.
He’s a God who uses a lowly shepherd boy to defeat a giant.
A God who delivers from Egyptian bondage only to bring His people to an insurmountable (to their view) sea.
He’s a God who calls an ‘obscure’ farm boy as the prophet of the restoration; who makes fishermen and a despised tax collector into apostles and leaders of His church.
He’s a God who befriends the friendless, who ignores worldly power and position, and who allows His own suffering and death, at the hands of ordinary men, in order to bring about our redemption and eternal life.
When we let our own expectations determine what He must do, we risk missing the breathtaking ways in which He is actually working in and with us. He invites us to learn to see His hand in our stories, even if that means setting aside the preconceptions we have for our lives.
He’s a God who teaches us trust, patience and faith; who leads us on journeys to change and transform us. Many times in unexpected ways.
