My wife and I aren’t good at surprises. When I first bought her engagement ring I barely made it until sunset before getting on one knee to propose. So as I write this in the midst of preparing her surprise fortieth birthday party it has been really difficult to not spoil it. 

This has been a challenging year for my wife as we lost her dad only a month or so ago. I want nothing more than to see her smile and enjoy a needed celebration. Yet as I think about her vantage point, she has to be thinking, Well, I hope he remembers to do something for me, or possibly even, when is something good going to happen for me this year? I can’t share with her all the fun tidbits of what is being planned yet because of the extra happiness a surprise will bring with it.

I see the same thing in myself when waiting for God to act. I anxiously wait for a response email on a key work issue. I pray for the healing of a loved one or for a friend’s marriage to be restored. I ask God to show me what direction to go with a pivotal life choice. As I wait I nervously anticipate what if anything God will do with me in these situations.

Yet, behind the scenes God has been planning something bigger and better than I could imagine. He has promised me this time and time again in scripture. Here are just a few.

• “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).
• “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18 NIV).
• “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:19 NIV).
• “‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah” (Jeremiah 33:14 NIV).

What if we lived our lives in full expectation of the joy that God has in store for us? I don’t mean it as a Pollyanna-like faith that every day will be easier than the last; we are certainly not guaranteed that. 

But what if by faith we truly believe God is planning a celebration for us beyond our comprehension? What if His surprise party will bring us so much happiness that today’s waiting and often suffering, is well worth the wait?

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