This week we have a guest post from Published Author, Children’s Pastor, and one of my personal all time favorite human beings, Hannah Faith Weaver. If you enjoy it, make sure to give her a follow @hannahfaithweaver on Instagram. 

I have been a follower of Jesus for 21 of the 27 years of my life, and many times over I have watched him do the impossible. I have seen him move in ways I never would have imagined, and sometimes in ways I wouldn’t have chosen, every time, still, it turns out to be better his way than mine. There is a song I hold dear to my heart that encapsulates this very notion perfectly, “Wouldn’t It Be Like You” by Bryan and Katie Torwalt. The chorus repeats “wouldn’t it be like you to be different than we thought, different than want, but better,” something I found myself reminded of (in an admittedly silly way), this weekend. 

I was given the opportunity to see my favorite artist in concert in Miami. My friend had found someone selling their tickets to this sold out concert on social media, and called me in a frenzy asking if I could go the following week to attend the concert, of course I said yes! With no time to waste, plane tickets were purchased and a hotel was booked. A few days later the seller backed out, and we lost the tickets. Determined, my friend once again found tickets, this time through a reputable ticket reselling site, and these tickets were incredible. And so we made our way to Miami, only to wake up to learn that something had gone wrong with the seemingly incredible second set of tickets. We were offered two choices, accept reassigned seats that were behind the stage, or take a risk by accepting a refund and trying once more to find another set of tickets. My friend took the risk. Exceeding all of our expectations, we found two floor seats, closer to the stage than any of the others we had to this point, with a price below what we had originally paid. These tickets were better than anything we could have dreamt up, and what would have simply been a fun night, became a once in a lifetime experience. 

After returning home, I reflected on what a hilarious and wonderful whirlwind our trip was. I thought about our three different set of tickets, and I thought of the words of the aforementioned song: “Wouldn’t it be like you to be different than we thought, different than we want, but better?” I laughed to myself at the trivial comparison of my experience getting concert tickets to see my favorite artist with the ways of God, but I still could not help but ponder it all. I wouldn’t have chosen the (slightly stressful) path that led to us getting these once in a lifetime seats. I would have chosen the path of least resistance. In fact, if it had been up to me, I probably would not have taken the risk of getting a refund to look for better tickets at all and would simply have accepted the bad, behind the stage tickets that I knew were a guarantee. Had I done that, I would have missed out on a once in a lifetime experience of seeing my favorite artist in an up close way I never would have imagined I’d get to experience. 

And so I thought, how many times have I held something in my hands, thinking it was the best thing for me, only to later learn God had infinitely better for me than I knew to ask for? How many times have I tried to bring about something in my own way and strength, when God had always desired to make it happen in a way only he could? How many times have I walked away because I was tired of waiting on God to move? How many times has God longed to do something in my life that was different than I thought, different than I wanted, but better and I missed it?  I have learned time and time again, both in this silly concert example, and all throughout my life that God longs to give us that which is exceedingly better than we could ask, think, or imagine, if only we will place the control in his hands alone. It is best this way. It is best his way.  Today, while you are waiting for the miracle, might I challenge you to take the risk to believe that as we follow him, wouldn’t it be like our God to be different than we thought, different than we want, but better? Then, dare to risk even more by holding it all open handed before the God who never fails. Releasing all control to him, invite God to guide you through it all, and repeat back to God the words of Moses found in Exodus 33:15, “if your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.” Meaning, basically, “God I can’t bring this about on my own, so if you don’t move I’m not moving,” and, “I trust you enough to stand still in the in-between, knowing your way is better than mine every time.” 

I promise you will find that he will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:8, Hebrews 13:5), and that he will do exceedingly and abundantly more than you could ask, think or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). The way to the miracle may look daunting, and different than anything you ever would have chosen, but hold on. It is best this way. Because wouldn’t it be like him to be different than we thought, different than we want, but better? 

I’d put my money on that tonight.

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