Nothing Surprises God
By Rick Warren
“Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16 NIV).
God knows everything about your faults and failures and your feelings and frustrations, and he also knows what your tomorrow holds. He knows your future.
The Bible says that even before you were born, God knew all of your future: “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16 NIV).
From his perspective, God can see past, present, and future all at once. That should give us great confidence in God. It’s comforting to me that he knows everything that is going to happen in my life. He not only knows about the future, he’s also there in the future. He not only walks with us day by day, he can also walk in our future.
God is already prepared for everything you’re going to face tomorrow, next week, and next month. What the future holds may surprise us, but it doesn’t surprise God. Nothing ever catches him by surprise or makes him say, “Oh, really?”
Next month or next year, you may be faced with a crisis, and you may ask, “What’s happening? Where is God?” God’s been there all along, preparing. He’s already in your future, and he’s prepared for everything.
If God knows all my tomorrows today, then I should ask him for advice. He knows what’s going to happen: “Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own” (Jeremiah 33:3 The Message).
The things you don’t know, God can tell you about. He’s not going to lay out your whole life all at once, telling you everything that will happen. If he did, you’d likely get deeply discouraged or prideful — or both. Instead, he gives it to you a little bit at a time.
Here’s what I’d suggest: When you get up in the morning, go over your schedule with the Lord. Pray, “Father, you’ve already seen this day that I’m about to experience. You know ahead of time every interruption I’m going to face, every crisis, every flat tire, every missed plane, every hurt, even when I’m going to spill my coffee. You’ve already seen it all. Would you please give me the strength that I need for today?”
God knows exactly what you need because he’s already seen what you’re going to face. And he will provide for you.
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Talk It Over
Why might some people get discouraged to realize that God can see past, present, and future all at once?
What is God doing in your life right now that might be preparing you for what you will face in the future?
Why are some people willing to try all kinds of methods to figure out the future?
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You Make Me Crazy Complete Audio Series
Because we all know someone who tests our patience…
God calls us to love real people who don’t always act ideal. But it’s not easy.
That’s why Pastor Rick Warren’s complete audio series titled, You Make Me Crazy, is so powerful. It’s a series worth sharing with others. And it’s a series you’ll want to hear yourself again and again.
The eight messages are available as a CD boxed set or downloadable MP3s. They include:
Six Keys to Peace in Relationships
Who’s Pushing Your Buttons?
Resolving Conflict God’s Way
Finding the Love of Your Life
Breaking Free from Abuse
Escaping the People Pleaser Trap
Keeping the Crazy-makers from Making You Crazy
How to Keep Your Marriage Growing
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This devotional © 2017 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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