Surprise!

Surprise Scenario

Church pastor, who happens to be my son, is injured playing “adult” league soccer. (That part wasn’t surprising at all.)

Possible bone bruise. Pain continues. Conscientious, somewhat perfectionist, ortho doc orders MRI. 

MRI completed. Tear in ACL “clearly” shown. Surgery recommended. Surgery to repair ACL scheduled for July 24, tho time changes occurred up until the day before the procedure.

Warriors praying before, during and after the surgery ---double digit in number.

God’s best. Diminished pain. Quick & complete recovery.

Surgery Day--Required scope ensued as part of ACL pre-surgery protocol when harvesting tissue from a cadaver.

Unexpected twist occurred---no tear in ACL was found.

Doc cleaned out, sewed up, bandaged up and sent home with crutches. Doc said, "ACL tear shadow seemed apparent MRI but.....scope showed NO tear.

Unexpected twists. Shock. Astonishment. How about just a good old-fashioned prayer answering miracle?

So why do we act surprised when things turn out better than expected?

Just like saints praying for the release of imprisoned Peter in the book of Acts---we’re often astonished at the outcome!

The whole “church” is praying for Peter’s release. The angel of the Lord (12:7) comes and releases his chains. Peter realizes the Lord sent the angel and he went to Mary’s home .(John Mark’s mother) Peter had an encounter at the gate with a girl who saw him but the thinking of the pray-ers was, “That can’t be Peter – he’s in jail. It must be an angel.”

“We’re here praying for his freedom, so he can’t be free” seemed the mentality.

“But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.” (Acts 12:16)

Is it because our prayers sometimes seem to go unanswered, that we find ourselves expecting God to do little or nothing when we pray?

Too often, we’re even hesitant to see answered prayers for what they are----God’s best surprise!