Not Unexpected

I don't know about you, but I'm a huge bookworm (as previously stated), and so I've read quite a bit of books. But most people have read at least one fiction book in their lifetime. 

I've actually taken a fiction writing class, and I know that any author that has any kind of sense at all plans out their story. Some plan out every little detail about how every single chapter is gonna go, and some just have a general outline for the story. But every good author at least has a plan for where they want their story to end up. 

And I also know (as does anyone who reads fiction) that most good stories have a twist. It doesn't even have to be a thriller to have unexpected twists. Someone dies, gets caught in adultery, gets pregnant, falls in love with someone unexpected, their life gets ruined, etc. There's always some kind of unexpected turn that keeps you guessing. 

Here's the thing about twists in books: the author knew it was going to happen. When they sat down to write the book, it was in their plan, and it wasn't straying from the path they wanted their novel to take when it happened. When they wrote the chapter in which it happens they didn't get suddenly shocked and exclaim: "That's not how I thought it would happen!" Of course they knew. They're the author. And they know how everything that happens builds the character of their characters, and ultimately builds toward the ending.

And isn't that a perfect metaphor for God's sovereign hand and plan in our lives? When a situation occurs, and it seems like its the very end for us; when a house burns down, a relative dies, the economy plunges and you lose your job; for us it's unexpected. We never saw it coming. But God isn't surprised. He doesn't get shocked and suddenly exclaim: "This is not how I thought it would happen!" Of course He knew. He's God. He knows how everything builds up and grows us, and ultimately achieves His great purpose.

No, the crazy happenings and twists and turns in our life are not surprising to Him, all held in the complete control of God, and nothing happens to us that doesn't first pass through His sovereign hand. When we come across a situation that seems like the end, He saw it coming, and He knows exactly how to handle it. After all, He's the one writing the story.