More Than Expected

Have you ever gotten something that far exceeded your expectation?

I remember asking for a baby doll for Christmas when I was a little girl. All I wanted was a doll with brown hair and brown eyes. That Christmas stands out like no other because not only did I get the baby doll I wanted, I also got three outfits that my mom made by hand, I got a baby bottle to feed the baby doll, and my dad made a baby bed out of an old wooden orange crate from my grandpa’s store. The doll bed came complete with a handmade mattress, pillow, and little baby quilt. I remember squealing with so much excitement because it was SO much more than I had expected!

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us (1 John 5:14).

One of the best parts of traveling around giving talks and retreats is the people I meet and the stories they share about the things God is doing in their lives. I often pack up my little bag and hop on a plane determined to go give something, but without fail, instead of doing the giving, I’m always the one who ends up receiving and experiencing so much more than I expected! I’m amazed at all the things the Lord can do when we open our hearts: always more than we expect!

Recently I’ve had some lovely women share an instance where God has worked in amazing and unexpected ways, and with their permission I’d like to share them with you in this post.

It’s all in the name

A nurse who was very apprehensive and anxious about a new computer system taking over the surgical center where she worked asked God to help her find a way to cope with the unwelcome changes. She was an experienced nurse but technology wasn’t part of her training or her generation, compounding the stress and anxiety! In the shower the morning of the big “technology takeover,” she told God she was surrendering the whole crazy deal to Him and asked Him to calm her stress and be with her as she tried to learn.

When she got to work that day, each nurse was assigned an assistant from the technology company. The gentleman assigned to help her was polite, gentle, understanding, and extremely helpful and calming. As the nerves and stress began to subside, she thanked him for his helpfulness and asked his name. He told her his name was Emmanuel.  Knowing that Emmanuel means “God is with us,” she was overwhelmed at the goodness and love of the God she’d invited to be in charge of her day. The name was just a huge loving touch that proved His presence and love beyond her expectation.

Just ask me

A grandma sat in the audience at a day of prayer and was troubled that her daughter was not making Sunday Mass a priority for her young family. She sent a text inviting her daughter and family to Mass with her at the conclusion of the day of prayer, but the daughter texted back and declined. The situation sat on the woman’s heart like a brick.  When the scripture from 1 John was discussed she closed her eyes and made a conscious decision to ask God to take the situation and handle it “according to His will.”

When the session took a break, she checked her phone and read a text from her daughter informing her of their Sunday Mass plans. When she checked the time the text was sent, it was exactly one minute after she had turned the situation over to the Father’s will. She was shaking with joy when she came to me to show me the text and tell me the story. The text also indicated that her grandson had just been accepted into the Catholic preschool they were hoping he could attend. One request, one text, one big blessing that exceeded her expectation as only God can.

Ask with faith

I think sometimes we set the bar so low it’s a wonder we don’t trip over it!  God is waiting every minute to exceed our expectations. If we ask … if we believe … if we trust … and if it’s according to His will, He will surprise us every time! Go ahead and give it a try; ask with faith and then share the story!

A Seed to Plant: Make a two-column list during your prayer time today. In the first column make a list of all the recent prayers God has answered in your life and in the second column make a list of all the things you’d like to lift to the Glory of His plan.  

Blessings on your day!

Copyright 2019 Sheri Wohlfert

Image Copyright: Pixabay.com (2016), CC0/PD

This article was originally published at CatholicMom.com and is shared here with permission.