Breathless Expectation

You just never know what a series of phone calls one morning will bring. One morning I answered the phone three times, one call after another, and by noon that day, I learned I was going to Guatemala for Ginny's wedding. 36 hours later, I had a renewed passport and was on a plane.

During my trip, someone from my church in Geneva sent out this meditation by Oswald Chambers of My Utmost for His Highest. It perfectly fit the experience I had of being completely surprised by this wonderful adventure and provision for joy by God.

1 John 3:2 - "..it has not yet been revealed what we shall be..."

"Our natural inclination is to be so precise — trying always to forecast accurately what will happen next — that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing. We think that we must reach some predetermined goal, but that is not the nature of the spiritual life. The nature of the spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty. Consequently, we do not put down roots. Our common sense says, "Well, what if I were in that circumstance? " We cannot presume to see ourselves in any circumstance in which we have never been.

Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life— gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. This is generally expressed with a sigh of sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises. When we become simply a promoter or a defender of a particular belief, something within us dies. That is not believing God — it is only believing our belief about Him. Jesus said, ". . . unless you . . . become as little children . . ." (Matthew 18:3 ). The spiritual life is the life of a child.

We are not uncertain of God, just uncertain of what He is going to do next. If our certainty is only in our beliefs, we develop a sense of self-righteousness, become overly critical, and are limited by the view that our beliefs are complete and settled. But when we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy. Jesus said, ". . . believe also in Me" (John 14:1 ), not, "Believe certain things about Me". Leave everything to Him and it will be gloriously and graciously uncertain how He will come in— but you can be certain that He will come. Remain faithful to Him."

I really want to remember this magnificent lesson of blessing so unexpected it left me breathless. In one day, everything changed and my wings were unpinned. It is such a small thing for God to bring a sudden revelation and reversal of fortunes, and I can't wait to see what He does next.

p.s. I think those four Maseratis were on to something. :)