Why Are We Surprised?

Christa arrived safely in Bouchette, a suburb of Maniwaki, where she will spend the week with the Alraei family. At dark a.m. Monday, Barb drove her from Shanliwood to the bus station in Ottawa, Ontario. You may remember this bus terminal as the infamous spot where Christa stayed long enough on Saturday afternoon that she may begin to receive mail there. Now Christa is saying that she is glad that the whole bus-capade happened. She had an enjoyable weekend with Jacques and Barb Cote:"They feel like my family to me now." Christa met some of the teenaged girls with whom she will spend time in late July. The Cotes filled her love tank--and watched yet more Stanley Cup hockey with her. Other than her learning to cheer for the Edmonton Oilers, what could be wrong with this picture of God's provision? Why are we surprised when God takes care of us? Is it that we expect Him to do anything less than provide for all of our needs--even our safety or peace? Perhaps it is because we think a perfect plan would have no seams, no glitches, no pain. Perhaps we assume that if things did not go "smoothly," then something was out of line, out of place, strangely in dischord. If we look at the example of Jesus' life, then we see that He had no home--yet He did not seem to go hungry unless He fasted by choice; He had disloyal friends; His people rejected Him which led to His death like a criminal; He even wondered aloud why God had seemingly "forsaken" Him. All of that was Plan A--from the beginning of time. The ultimate goal of that stream-lined lifestyle and public humiliation was our salvation, our eternal safety, if you will. Why does it surprise us when our definition of smooth sailing does not align with God's version? Ultimately, it's still all about saving the world.