Why is it so fun to surprise people? Why do we throw surprise parties? Why do we wrap gifts and make people wait? Why do men go to great lengths to plan something elaborate and surprising when they want to propose to the woman they care about? What is the joy in surprise?
Perhaps it is the joy of thinking, “You are about to be far happier than you realize.” Perhaps surprises let us tell people, “I was thinking about you and planning this party/gift/surprise when you weren’t even aware. You were being loved behind the scenes the whole time, even when you thought everyone had forgotten your birthday/anniversary/you in general.” Perhaps it is the thought, “If I told you about the surprise beforehand, you would think you planned it and not me.” Sometimes we surprise people to give them something they would be too shy or timid to ask for because they never thought we would actually give it. Maybe we surprise people simply because we know it will make us and the other person happy.
We serve a God of surprises.
Why does He have us wonder and wait in prayer long before showing us an answer? Why does He only give us small glimpses of future gifts and grace that we already know we are going to receive when from our perspective it would be really nice to know exactly what those gift are like right now? Why does He go to great lengths to plan, from eternity, something elaborate, surprising, and completely counter-intuitive when He wants to do something in our lives? What is his joy in surprise?
Perhaps it is his joy in thinking, “You are about to be far happier than you realize.” Perhaps surprises let Him tell us, “I was thinking about you and planning this joy/grace/act of love when you weren’t even aware. You were being loved behind the scenes all along, even when you doubted and though I had forgotten your need/prayer/you in general.” Perhaps He realizes “If I told you about the surprise beforehand, you would think you planned it and not Me.” Sometimes He surprises us in order to give us something we would be too shy or timid or shortsighted to ask for because we never thought we would actually give it or even be able to give it. Maybe He surprises us simply because He knows it will fill both of us with unspeakable joy.
Brazzled 