Part 7 - Staying Open to God’s Surprises
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." - James 1:17
"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'" - Isaiah 30:21
Insight
If this past year taught you anything, it probably taught you that life rarely unfolds exactly according to your plans. Doors opened that you never saw coming. Dreams shifted in unexpected directions. Challenges arose that weren't on your radar. And through it all, God was present, working, weaving together a story more complex and beautiful than anything you could have orchestrated yourself.
As you look toward the year ahead, one of the most important spiritual disciplines you can cultivate is reception—the willingness to receive whatever God wants to give you, even when it doesn't match what you thought you wanted or needed. This isn't passive resignation; it's active trust in a God whose vision for your life is larger and more loving than your own.
Reception requires a kind of holy flexibility, a willingness to hold your plans and expectations lightly enough that when God wants to redirect, you don't miss His leading because you're too attached to your original route. It's the recognition that His gifts often come disguised as interruptions, His opportunities wrapped in challenges, His blessings hidden in circumstances that initially look like setbacks.
The year ahead will undoubtedly bring moments when God's guidance doesn't make immediate sense, when His timing feels off, when His methods challenge your preferences. The practice of reception prepares you to say yes even when you don't fully understand, to receive His gifts even when they come in unexpected packages, to trust His heart even when you can't trace His hand.
This doesn't mean becoming a spiritual doormat or abandoning all planning and intentionality. It means holding your plans in partnership with God rather than in competition with Him. It means being willing to adjust your course when His wisdom reveals a better way. It means staying curious about His purposes even when they differ from your expectations.
Some of God's greatest gifts come through experiences we would never choose for ourselves. The job loss that leads to a better opportunity. The relationship ending that makes space for healthier connections. The health scare that reorders your priorities. The financial strain that teaches you to depend on Him in new ways. These aren't signs that God doesn't care about your happiness—they're evidence that He cares about something even deeper: your wholeness, your character, your capacity to love and be loved.
As you step into the new year, practice receiving each day as a gift, each challenge as an opportunity for growth, each unexpected turn as a potential divine appointment. Stay awake to the ways God might want to surprise you with His goodness, even when—especially when—it doesn't look like what you expected.
Journaling Questions
Looking back, where has God's redirection in your life led to better outcomes than your original plans would have produced?
What expectations or predetermined ideas about how the year "should" unfold might you need to hold more lightly?
How can you cultivate curiosity about God's purposes rather than anxiety when His timing or methods don't align with your preferences?
In what areas of your life do you sense God might be preparing to surprise you or redirect you in the year ahead?