How to Handle the Unexpected

Regularly, we face unexpected happenings that either make or break our day. But if you think about it, many unexpected things could have been avoided if we had taken God’s spiritual law of sowing and reaping seriously.

Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” What you sow today determines what you reap tomorrow.

Matthew 13:24-30 tells us that, while the farmer slept, an enemy sowed tares in his wheat field. The parable is meant to show that the tares were sown because he didn’t pay attention.

Your life is the sum total of all the words you’ve spoken.

Although this parable is in the context of an agricultural society, it’s also true for us. We’re “sleeping” if we don’t watch the seeds (words) we sow. Proverbs 18:20 says words produce fruit: “A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; from the produce of his lips he shall be filled.”

Your life right now is the sum total of all the words you’ve spoken about yourself and your destiny. Words from your heart and out of your mouth release life or death over your destiny, as it says in Proverbs 18:21: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Seemingly unexpected events really aren’t, and can be avoided in the future by disciplining your tongue. Release today what you want to see happening in the future, because what you sow today, you’ll reap tomorrow.

Now what about the truly unexpected events in your life for which you aren’t responsible? Here are a few points to consider:

GOD IS SOVEREIGN Not every problem will be removed, but can be used for your good.

God’s desire isn’t to kill you or even let Satan do it. He’s in the character-building business, building the character of Christ in you. Trust His sovereignty because He loves you and ultimately controls your destiny. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Rom. 8:28)

KNOW WHEN TO RESIST If what you’re going through is outside of the will (word) of God; if it’s contrary to His purposes for your life and has Satan’s fingerprints all over it, you MUST resist! If you’re not sure and fear you’ll miss God, trust the Holy Spirit to show you for sure in the Word.

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. “ (James 4:7)

TRUST IN GOD In the parable of the wheat and tares, the tares were allowed to grow until harvest season, when they would be separated and burned. Some unexpected things can’t be changed, like the death of a lost loved one or something important being taken away from you. In those cases we can only trust in God and let Him use it for our good. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding…” (Proverbs 3:5)

THANK GOD IN ALL THINGS “In everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18b). Notice it says to thank God IN everything, not FOR everything. GOD is there with you even in the unexpected, and if God is with you, no weapon formed against you will prosper!

Unexpected events will always occur. They’re part of life itself. But they don’t have to stop God’s destiny from being fulfilled if we handle the unexpected correctly.

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