Surprised by god
Being surprised by God isn’t weak faith—it’s proof He’s still exceeding what we imagined.
📖 Scripture:
“The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.”
Luke 2:33
Read Luke 2:22–35
🕯️ Bible Study: Surprised by God
There is a moment in Luke 2 that grabs my attention. .
Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the temple, simply doing what faithful parents do—being obedient, following the law, taking the next right step. And there they meet Simeon, a man who had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before seeing the Messiah.
When Simeon takes Jesus in his arms, he speaks words filled with prophecy, truth, and destiny. He declares who Jesus is and what He will do. None of it is shocking in content—this is the Savior of the world.
And yet the Bible says:
“The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.”
— Luke 2:33
They were surprised.
That detail used to confuse me.
How could they be surprised after everything they had already experienced?
After the angel.
After the miracle of conception.
After the journey.
After the birth.
Surprise wasn’t the reaction I expected.
But then God gently reminded me of something I often forget:
Mary and Joseph were still human.
Yes, Mary had found favor with God.
Yes, they had already witnessed the miraculous.
But they did not know the full future.
They were not told every detail, every outcome, every way Jesus would change the world.
They trusted God—
but they did not fully know what trusting Him would unfold.
And because of that, they were still able to marvel.
Still able to be surprised.
Still able to stand in awe.
When I look at my own life, I see myself in them.
God has done great things for me.
He has shown up in undeniable ways.
He has been faithful again and again.
And still—there are moments when He reveals something new, opens a door I never saw coming, or moves in a way I didn’t expect…
and I am surprised.
I used to think that meant my faith was lacking.
That if I truly trusted God, nothing He did would catch me off guard.
But now I see it differently.
Being surprised by God does not mean I doubted Him.
It means He did more than I imagined.
God has always chosen ordinary people to do extraordinary things—not because they were supernatural, but because they trusted and believed.
Mary and Joseph didn’t know everything.
They simply said yes.
They walked forward in obedience.
And they allowed themselves to marvel when God revealed more.
That is faith.
Simeon also speaks a harder truth to Mary—a reminder that following God’s plan would not be painless:
“And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
— Luke 2:35
Even that did not come with full explanation.
Only enough truth for the next step.
Because God rarely gives the whole picture at once.
He gives enough light for today—and invites us to trust Him with tomorrow.
So I’ve made a quiet decision in my heart.
I will no longer see being surprised by God as a weakness in my faith.
I will see it as evidence that God is still exceeding my expectations.
I will receive His plans with surprise and gratitude.
With humility and wonder.
With the same awe Mary and Joseph felt in that temple.
Because God is still God.
And He still does more than we could ask, think, or imagine.
💭 Reflection:
Sometimes we assume that strong faith means having no unanswered questions. But faith often grows not through certainty—rather through obedience without full clarity. Wonder is not the enemy of belief; it is often its companion.
❓ A Question for You:
Where has God surprised you lately—and how did you respond when He did?
🙏 Prayer:
God, help me trust You even when I don’t see the whole picture. Teach me to walk forward in obedience and receive Your plans with wonder instead of fear. Thank You for still exceeding what I imagine. Amen.
👣 Practical Step:
Today, write down one moment where God surprised you in the past. Thank Him specifically for it—and ask Him to help you remain open to being surprised again.
💌 Invite a Friend:
Know someone who feels unsure because they don’t have all the answers yet? Forward this to remind them: faith doesn’t require certainty—just trust.
