Surprises Over Expectations

Apr 15, 2021

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

Matthew 13:31-32

The life and ministry of Jesus was full of surprises.

First century Jews expected a triumphant King; instead, they got a tiny baby in a manger in Bethlehem.

They expected victory over the Romans; instead, they got the crucifixion.

They expected death to win; instead, the tomb was empty.

They expected the Kingdom of God to be a militaristic force that takes over the world; instead, Jesus compares it to a mustard seed.

Sometimes I think God must chuckle as He repeatedly surprises His people. We have worldly, selfish expectations of how God should operate. And over and over again He reminds us, “It’s in my time, it’s in my way, it’s within my will.”

I love the parable of the mustard seed because this unexpected metaphor reveals God’s transformative nature. He takes the smallest thing and, with a touch of His hand, He transforms it into abundant blessing. His kingdom isn’t confined by our expectations - He didn’t need great wealth or armies or force to change the world. Instead, He took a simple man and twelve disciples, and grew His kingdom from there. Just like a mustard seed, nothing is too small for the power of God.

From twelve disciples to millions of believers. From small home gatherings to massive churches. From death to life. God is in the business of superseding our expectations and turning nothing into something incredible.

I wonder how your expectations might be limiting God’s power in your own life. I think, when we’re honest with ourselves, it’s pretty easy to think a lot like those first century Jews. We limit God’s behavior to what we think makes sense, rather than awaiting the incredible ways He will bless us beyond all imagination.

We expect God to meet our timelines, but He’s working things out in His perfect timing.

We expect God to require perfection, but He wants us just as we are.

We expect God to walk away when we fail, but He died for us while we were still sinners.

We expect God to give us all we want, but His ways are higher than ours.

We expect out of human limitation, but God offers a mustard seed kind of power.

How would your life look different if you lived with a mustard seed kind of faith? God is inviting us to release our expectations, and instead, allow His power to work in unexpected and miraculous ways.

Famous theologian and author A.W. Tozer says,

“God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which He must work. Only to know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves.”

God isn’t in a rush. And most likely, His timeline won’t fit into your finite expectations. Instead, He will do a work in you that is far greater than you could ever imagine.

Let’s quiet our spirits, relax our nerves, and trust with a mustard seed faith this week.