In the Bible, we can read about God’s promises and His character. Here are some astonishing facts about God you may not know.
5 Astonishing Facts About God
Growing up, I could never sleep in on Sunday Mornings, my family had a routine to follow. I would start my day by waking up, having breakfast, getting dressed, and heading to church. Going to church was a given. My siblings and I didn’t have to ask what we were doing for the day. We just knew.
There’s something special about daily schedules. They make it easy for us to handle our day-to-day tasks. To this day, I still maintain this routine with my family. However, issues can arise when a change happens and disrupts our flow. Going one day without a “hiccup” would be wonderful. But that is not how life operates. We know instinctively to keep watch for a change in plans. One of my friends, who I love dearly, creates a backup plan or just-in-case plan as a preventive measure if her first arrangement falls through.
What do we do when life goes awry and the unexpected happens? We turn to what first works best for us by planning our little hearts out instead of looking to God. The change from familiar to unfamiliar starts with the certainty of God. While we may arrange our days, God formulates our steps. Even in these moments, we can hold on to these truly astonishing facts about God. Remember, He is for us!
1) God Can Surprise Us
God is so much more than our limited perceptions allow. When we think we have only two choices, “a” and “b”, He intervenes and surprises us with His plan. Proverbs 16:9 (ESVUK) says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” As human beings, we will never stop making plans, but perhaps a lesson for us to learn is to hold our plans loosely. God doesn’t work within our black-and-white schemes. He navigates through the spaces of our in-between’s.
We can see His handy work throughout familiar Bible stories. He can do it as He has done it before.
- God sent an angel to announce the birth of Jesus to the shepherds in a field – Surprising them!
- Jesus fed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fishes. – Surprising the disciples!
- God instructed Joshua with an unusual strategy for the battle of Jericho. Through a loud roar of cheers, walls fell. – Surprising those inside the walls!
- Christ rose from the dead after three days – Surprising many even though it was prophesied!
God can and will use our gifts to glorify Him. Though we may feel as if our days are filled with normalcy, He will take it and surprise us. Walking with God will change the way we view our days.
2) His Ways Are Not Our Ways
Nearly every time I read scripture, I’m floored by God and by how He thinks, acts, or speaks. Yet, on most occasions, we assume we understand God’s plan. When His plans are not what we thought, we rush to conclusions, are quick to anger, or simply fall away from God’s open arms.
We should not gripe or have apprehension when God calls us to assignments that seem far beyond our gifts and abilities – BECAUSE SURPRISE – His ways are not our ways. God makes no mistakes in His holdings. His wisdom never falters. His righteous hand can carry the weight of all our burdens with ease. Though the stories of the Bible may seem familiar, we are surrounded by the possibilities that only our Heavenly Father can see.
God will take us from hasty beginnings to humble outcomes. Thankfully, God remains seated on His throne, and “The plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations” Psalm 33:11. What a comfort this is for every Christian. No matter our plans, God’s ways will stand firm.
3) God Cares For Us Deeply
Despite our careful analysis of our next best steps, God has already divinely walked before us. Even if we can’t see Him, He knows our plans and establishes our steps for His will and not ours. A change in routine may cause us some discontent. But knowing He is for us and not against us is comforting.
Our tendency to analyze and plan each step can lead to a heart filled with worry. God doesn’t want this for our lives. He wants us to live in the freedom of His presence. The King of Heaven will tell you that He didn’t die on the cross for just a “nobody”. He died on the cross for you, His child. The Apostle Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5:7 to “Cast all your anxiety on Him (God) because he cares for you.” We must not forget we are His masterpieces, made in His image to live a life full of possibilities and not hostilities.
Isn’t it amazing to know that no matter what challenges we face or how tough the road ahead may seem, God’s love and promises don’t change. He is faithful, loving, and cares for us deeply, even when we slip up.
4) Nothing Can Separate Us From God’s Love
The love of Christ roots itself more deeply than the love we have come to understand. God’s love is unconditional. His powerful love shields His called children from separation, according to Romans 8:28. Sometimes, we read and hear the same words over and over again, and become desensitized to it. We know that God loves us; we sing songs about it at church. But it doesn’t mean we comprehend the meaning.
How do we begin to grasp His great love for us? Surprise! Christ did something no one else would ever do for us. He swapped places with us. He took the weight of our sins and bore them on the cross for us. “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21. The magnitude of His love should bring us to our knees, rejoicing.
Through Him, we have been forgiven, set apart, and made righteous. Paul in Romans 8:38-39 concludes that nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. It’s a love that transcends boundaries, forgives without keeping score, and remains trustworthy.
5) God’s Word Is A Guarantee
As you know, going to church is a priority for our family. Despite our plans to go every Sunday, there’s no guarantee we will show up. We may be away on a planned family vacation, have a sports event that can’t be rescheduled, or maybe one of us has simply gotten sick. Life gets busy and it can be an inconvenience regarding our original plans. So while we plan for a Sunday morning at church, it may not happen despite our best efforts.
When we commit our lives to Christ, we receive a guarantee – we are no longer condemned or, in other words, found guilty of our sins. “Through Christ Jesus, the law of the spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2. Even when we try our best to do the right thing, we still make mistakes. God stands by our side, leading us forward, and He declares our innocence.
It is not what we do, but through Christ, that we are renewed. Everything God says is right. When He speaks, it is done. This year, as we try to keep in a season of familiarity and patterns, I ask God to shift our perspectives of what we know and ask Him to surprise us.
Let’s begin to view each day as an opportunity to serve Him through the changes He makes to our plans and not see those changes to our schedule as a hindrance.
Let’s Pray Together
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for blessing us with the promises written in your word. I pray that through your word, we can grow closer to you. Help us to be intentional about our days, keeping us focused on you first. With your abiding promises, we have hope not in this world, but in you. Please continue to develop and grow our character for the Kingdom work you have prepared in advance for us to do.
In this, we ask in your precious name, Jesus. Amen!
Read More on Jen Schreiner
- How to Move Forward When You Feel Stuck
- Recognizing Our True Enemy: A Call to Focus on Faith
- The Power of Godly Friendships – 5 Key Qualities
- Why Isn’t God Answering My Prayers
- 5 Astonishing Facts About God
Leave a Reply