This time last year I had just given birth to my youngest baby.
Her pregnancy was unplanned and unexpected. At nearly 4o years old, with a quiver-full already, and a brand new grandbaby, we certainly thought that our child-bearing days were behind us.
But then God did the unthinkable. He went and messed up our best-laid plans, and gifted us with a surprise pregnancy.
If I’m being honest, I didn’t take the news very well. In fact, I panicked. I spent weeks in denial, as questions raced through my mind.
What will my husband say? What will our kids think? How will my aging body handle this pregnancy? What does this mean for my job? What about our retirement plans? WHAT OF MY DREAMS?
It makes me laugh to think that I somehow still believe I know what’s best for me. God must be amused at my trivial way of thinking, and I sometimes wonder if He doesn’t find comic relief at my expense.
I digress.
Before I actually knew for certain that I was yet again with child, I wrestled continuously with God.
In fact, the very night before finally conceding to take a pregnancy test, my mind simply would not shut down. Thoughts whirled, questions formed, and pictures of what could be arose.
I struggled to find sleep as peace was illusive.
I awoke multiple times throughout the night with a prayer already whispered on my lips. “God, please don’t let me be pregnant. Please don’t let me be pregnant.”
After awaking to this same scene repeatedly throughout the night, the Holy Spirit quickened me in my sleep, and I was suddenly jolted awake!
“What if you are with child already? What then?” His question brought conviction.
The very idea that there may already be a little life growing inside me brought tears to my eyes. The thought of this child ever feeling unwanted or unloved made my heart ache.
I instantly repented of my selfish behavior, and asked the Lord to help me embrace this new turn of events, albeit unexpected.
I slept the rest of that night in peace.
God had taken great care to prepare my heart to embrace the unexpected. Therefor, the next morning when I saw the 2 blue lines appear before my very eyes, I was able to calmly respond, “yes Lord.”
I think God must enjoy surprises. Or perhaps He merely likes to rattle us from our earthly expectations.
Everything about Jesus’ coming was unexpected.
His conception was unexpected. A virgin? Conceiving a child born of the Holy Spirit?
His birth place was unexpected. A stinky stable surrounded by stinky animals was less than ideal.
His form was unexpected. The people of Israel were expecting a King, not a baby.
And that is not all.
Jesus’ entire life was opposite of the people’s expectations.
Indeed He was a King, but a different kind of King was He. #unexpectedking #babyinamanger Share on X
Israel expected a supreme ruler trained in battle; donning wisdom beyond His years.
What they got was a baby born to a virgin, in a lowly town, into shameful circumstances.
They expected a man to come bursting onto the scene with praise and applause, riches and glory.
What they got was a child with meager beginnings, tucked away in a stable, hidden from men.
They thought He came to dole out punishment, but He came to give mercy instead.
They thought He came to be served, but He came to serve instead.
They thought He came to fight, but He came to bring peace.
They thought He would be adorned in power and might, but He came clothed in humility and grace.
They thought He would rule with an iron fist, but He came to heal with anointed hands.
They thought He would lead with commanding authority, but He came to lead by example instead.
They thought He came to reign upon a throne, but he came to reign inside our hearts.
They thought He would be the defender of the Jews, but He came as the sacrificial lamb for all.
What the people expected was nothing of what was actually presented, and Israel nearly missed the coming of their promised king because of it.
It’s not that they weren’t expecting Him. On the contrary, they had been expecting their savior king for thousands of years, due to the prophecy spoken by Isaiah, (Isaiah 9:6).
Their problem was that He did not look like they expected Him to.
How often are we guilty of this same behavior?
Is it possible that we dismiss what God is doing right before our eyes, because we expect it to look differently? #unexpectedking #eyestosee Share on X
I remember being a part of a gift exchange many years ago that I’ll never forget.
Under the tree sat several beautifully wrapped gifts, all adorning festive wrapping, ribbon and bows.
All but one, that is.
This one gift was wrapped in a crinkled up paper bag and sealed with duct tape.
Everyone laughed as, one by one, the guests tried to avoid getting stuck with the “ugly” gift.
Little did we know that the ugly gift held the most prized possession. Cold hard cash!
You can imagine everyone’s surprise as the gift was reluctantly opened by its recipient.
I can’t help but think of how often I do the same thing.
Ashamedly I admit that all too often I look at the outward appearance of a person, and immediately begin to form my own ideas.
Or by looking at the outer shell of a home, I instantly speculate what kind of family lives there.
Or perhaps I have a tendency to view life’s hard circumstances as being God’s punishment instead of a thoughtful gift placed there by a merciful savior; a blessing in disguise.
Some of life's greatest blessings come wrapped in unexpected packages. #unexpectedking #giftgiver Share on X
Sometimes life throws us curve balls when we least expect it, and circumstances can be downright hard.
We don’t always understand what God is up to, but is it possible that Jesus could be up to something glorious right there- smack dab- in the middle of our hard?
In the trenches; amidst the grit and grime?
In the tear-soaked pillow in the dead of the night?
In our broken hallelujah’s?
Could it be that Jesus has wrapped something infinitely beautiful beneath the perceived ruins?
Friends, there is a big difference between merely accepting what is, and embracing what is.
Jesus often comes to us in ways that we least expect, to tend to our greatest areas of need, despite our ignorance.
My pregnancy, though unexpected, brought my husband and I the gift of new life in more ways than one. If we hadn’t been willing to embrace our unexpected circumstances, we could have potentially missed out on the precious gift that God was desiring to give us- out of His love.
Be it far from us to miss out on what Jesus is doing in our midst because we’re too stubborn to acknowledge that it may look entirely different then we expected.
Let us instead prepare our hearts to embrace the unexpected King- in whatever form He comes- this advent.
Merry Christmas!
Beautiful post, as always, Rachel! What an amazing testimony about how God uses the “unexpected” to mold us and draw us closer to Him. Sometimes it’s not until we are truly broken and completely dependent on Him that we fully and wholly feel His peace and faithfulness. Thank you for sharing!!
Thank you Amy! You are so encouraging. I really appreciate your kindness. And I 100% agree with you! This has been my experience anyway.
Thank you so much for visiting my corner of the web today! 🙂
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Such a beautiful post! And this is so true: “Jesus often comes to us in ways that we least expect, to tend to our greatest areas of need, despite our ignorance.” May He open our eyes to see His beauty and truth!
Blessings to you! I’m your neighbor at #TeaAndWord
Yes! Thank you Gayl. <3
Love this post, Rachel. This line convicted me: “Or by looking at the outer shell of a home, I instantly speculate what kind of family lives there.” A ramshackle home on my commute often provokes my judgment. I don’t want to have that heart attitude, especially toward people Jesus loves. Merry Christmas to you!
Me either, Sarah. I find myself making unsound judgments all too often. I am ever grateful for the Spirit’s tender conviction and God’s unmerited grace. Thanks for visiting, friend. 🙂
Love this, Rachel! I was a baby born to a 40 year old woman as well–many, many years ago! ha! However, my mom wanted me and even planned me without telling my dad. Yikes! I kid, because I don’t believe my dad struggled to embrace me as the unexpected gift in their latter years, though he very well could have.
But I can only imagine how hard it would be to face having a pregnancy that you didn’t want or expect. I will say this, I think that I kept my mom and dad young in many ways compared to their peers. You have to! If you want to keep up with that little bundle of joy as your baby grows, that is. Merry Christmas, my friend! And nice to meet you!
Ha! Brave mom you have! 😉 Although my pregnancy was unexpected, and certainly unplanned, once I discovered that I was indeed with child, it didn’t take any time at all for me to love my sweet baby. It just meant adjusting to my new normal, and a delay to some of “our” plans.
But I wouldn’t change it for the world! She is a blessing in every way! And she truly helped to heal this momma’s heart. (Another story for another time) ;0)
Merry Christmas to you too!
This is so beautiful Rachel!! God spoke right through you to my heart tonight!! Thank you so much!!
I liked so many parts of this but I especially loved “Friends, there is a big difference between merely accepting what is, and embracing what is. Jesus often comes to us in ways that we least expect, to tend to our greatest areas of need, despite our ignorance.”
Thank you my friend!! XOXO Donna
Thank you Donna! Your kind words truly bless me. I am so thankful for you. <3
Wishing you and yours the very best this season. ((Hugs))
Rachel, beautiful post! Visiting from somewhere – I saw a comment from you on Lovelle’s blog on God Sized Dreams and had to come over and visit the lady who loves turquoise! I had one of those surprise pregnancies too at 27, I already had a nine-year old and a seven-year old. On Friday that surprise turns 40. I wouldn’t give one of those years away! Great visiting you. Blessings to you and yours.
Thank you Susan! Nice to “see” you here this morning. 😉
I wouldn’t trade even one day, either. She truly is a blessing. <3
Thanks for visiting, friend!
Rachel, there is so much packed in here that is pure wisdom. Thank you! What a wonderful surprise your family had. What an amazing unexpected Savior we have. What wisdom to embrace and not just accept what God gives!
Yes! Thank you Bethany, for your kind words. He is, indeed, a wonderful savior!
Many blessings to you & yours this season!
Me, as well – at almost 44… Loved everything about this post ! tweeted (twice) (: (My runt is 21 now… – I mean, my unexpected gift.)
I knew this about you Sue! I don’t remember where I read it, but I do recall that you had a “surprise” pregnancy while well into your 40’s.
Thank you for your encouragement! I appreciate the love.
Merry Christmas to you!
I think God takes delight in surprises also! I want to get to the place where I don’t question but I’m a work in progress. Merry Christmas!
Yes- me too, Crystal! Wouldn’t that be nice? There are times when I do better than at other times, but I’m still a work in progress as well.
Blessings to you!
don’t we always do that God’s gifts? we look at the outside of a gift and decide whether we want it or not rather than trusting the one who gives only good gifts and gratefully receive what He gives! A good reminder for me today. thanks!
Yes. I do this often. I wish that I were better about simply trusting Him, and the fact that He only gives good gifts. I would like to say that I embrace everything He brings my way with unswerving faith and surrender, like Mary. But the truth is, I struggle. I’m not sure I’ll ever “arrive.”
Thanks for stopping by here this morning.
Blessings to you!
We had a surprise pregnancy when I was almost 40, too. I burst into tears. I didn’t want the extreme morning sickness again, although having another baby was fine. I did wrestle with having to let go of the blog during the pregnancy because I was too sick. But like you said in your post, when we embrace the unexpected, God shows up and brings wonderful blessings. He caused me to grow spiritually during that time and now we have a gorgeous little girl. 🙂
Oh Kelly I can SO relate! My pregnancy was a spiritual experience as well. 😉 Growth and healing and new revelations of God’s glorious character were born in the process. I wouldn’t trade it, or my daughter, for the world!
Thanks for sharing your story with me. 🙂
What a good writer you are, Rachel. Love this post. How often do we overlook the best in favor of the shiny? Thanks for sharing today. Wishing you and your household a sweet holiday season. ((hug))
Brenda, you worded that so well! Thanks for your encouragement, sweet friend.
Many blessings to you this season. <3
What a beautiful post! I often thing about how what we desire most is right in front of us we must choose to see through His eyes instead of ours. Thank you for this reminder. Stopping by from Salt and Light Link Up.
I too had an unexpected gift – she’s now 14 and is just what we needed. I like the phrase “anointed hands”. God has anointed hands.
Merry Christmas
I loved your post. I write about embracing the unexpected and I appreciated your words, “there is a big difference between merely accepting what is, and embracing what is.” I am absolutely sharing this. Many times in life I find myself saying to God, “I have no idea why you allowed this to happen but I will trust you in it.”
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