November 2025 - Surprises from God
"Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." — Psalm 37:4 (NIV)
Two days ago I had the joyful experience of answering my phone to hear my son tell me that God had answered our prayers. As a college student, he had made a change in his housing arrangements for the fall quarter, but the change was not working out. In desperation, my son applied for new housing for Winter quarter, but we both knew it was a long shot. University off-campus housing was scarce, pricey, and unlikely to open up in the middle of an academic year.
Yet here he was, on the other end of the phone line, sharing the wonderful news availability had been found for him. Everything about the location, the space, and the cost was better than the arrangement in which he was living. Not only had God heard and answered our prayers, He had exceeded our every wish, checked every box, and once again, delivered a faith-building experience for us both.
I was surprised!!! Yet I wonder: Why? Why am I so surprised that God once again stooped to involve Himself in our lives? It is not as if this is the only time I’ve seen God work miracles. My son, in fact, is the miracle that cemented my faith in Him and opened my eyes to His immeasurable mercies. In response to a pitiful cry over 20 years ago, God gave me a son. I was not praying for a son — I was actually engaged in a fierce, spiritual battle and with infinite wisdom, God gave me the “desires of my heart.” A desire I had long ago given up on. Every day since I have marveled at His grace that knows no limit.
So I should not be surprised that I was surprised. His mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness. I will forever rejoice in the fact that my God still has the power — and the love — to surprise me with His infinite and everlasting power.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;[ His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23