Thankful, Through the Adventures of Winter, for the Surprises of God's Love

On Monday, December 12, I had previously arranged for an ice-fishing trip with some friends and church members. But, you saw the snow! Even though we have a man who plows our driveway, I still spent over 5 hours on Monday shoveling sidewalks, porches, and a way path for my truck. I had heard the weather forecast that snow was coming. But, the amount of snowfall was a surprise. The deep snow caused a change in plans for others in addition to my fishing trip, such as our schools, my Kiwanis Club, and our men’s Bible Class. Again, the unexpected amount of snow caused a change in plans. But, some surprises are relatively minor.

Another surprise occurred the day after Thanksgiving for a pastor friend of mine. He was driving his car when he hit a patch of black ice. My friend ended up in the hospital because of an accident. He underwent surgery and ended up in the ICU recovering from multiple injuries, including a broken neck. This pastor is now in a rehabilitation hospital. He had plans for leading worship, for celebrating the Advent and Christmas season at his church, and for serving God’s people. But now he is working to hopefully regain strength and health. His unexpected accident changed his life in more serious ways than the small changes of my fishing trip and the meetings. Sometimes we call these surprises “disasters.”

Unfortunately, we don’t know when trouble is coming, but it is not really a surprise. Our lives are full pain, trouble, and distress. We live in a world where the people in this life have rebelled against our Creator and Lord. Such sin has consequences. Garrison Keillor, in his radio show, “The Prairie Home Companion,” used to talk about Norweigan Bachelor Farmers. He said these characters in his stories, “expected the worst, but hope for the best.” Perhaps Keillor was saying that we aren’t really surprised when life brings trouble. The fact that we may not know when such trouble is coming, but it is expected, is a rather depressing truth.

I ask you to direct your attention to an unexpected turn in life, which started as trouble, but which turned out as good news for those involved. The Gospel Lesson assigned for this coming Sunday, the Fourth Sunday in Advent, is from Matthew 1:18-25. This section of Scripture begins the story of a young couple about to begin married life. That couple was Joseph and Mary. We read in Matthew 1:18, “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.” In a culture and time when people outwardly sought to follow the law and guidance of our Heavenly Father, guidance which says that sexual activity is to be kept between a husband and wife in the committed relationship of marriage, Mary’s pregnancy was a disaster. Joseph and Mary were not yet officially married, and the child did not belong to Joseph.

But, there was another surprise. “20 . . . an angel of the Lord appeared to him [Joseph] in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21) The surprise is that God had his hand in this unexpected pregnancy for the good of all people. In fact, Matthew goes on, “22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” --which means, “God with us.” In other words, God was in this trouble, and God’s presence ultimately brought grace and peace, love and forgiveness, and eternal life. God’s gifts did not come easily. Joseph and Mary faced the shame of the unexpected pregnancy. They fled to Egypt to escape Herod. Raising Jesus had its adventures. Ultimately, this Savior was crucified! But then He rose from the dead. God was in all of these trials acting in love to save the people of this world.

Do you see God’s surprises for good in your struggles? On Monday I fell while shoveling snow. I hit my back against a step. As I lay in pain in the snow I thought of my friend and his broken neck. But when I rolled over, I was fine. Perhaps there was not as much force in a fall as with an automobile accident. But, I was also thankful that God takes care of fools like me.

On Wednesday, December 7, I saw another example of God’s hand bringing good into a sinful world. A church family has been working to adopt a young girl, whom they have cared for as foster parents since her very early days. But, working through the state bureaucracy was slow, and frustrating, and left many questions. However, Pastor Schultz, Kathy, and I were present as the judge announced that the adoption was final. There was applause, and there were tears of joy. (After conducting the adoption hearing in a very official way, the judge later shared that his family had also adopted.) I have been through other adoptions attempts with God’s people. A number of those attempts did not necessarily go as well as this one did. I was, unfortunately, ready for the worst, like one of those farmers. But, I had been praying for months for the best, for God’s grace. And God was there!

Are you going through struggles, perhaps through unexpected troubles? Can you see the hand of God possibly working even in your difficulties? Through Jesus, we have “God With Us” in our trials and adventures. His love is present even when we cannot see it. May the surprise of God’s presence and His love bring you peace and joy this Christmas.