I just recently returned from Southern California where I spent most of my early years growing up. It is always interesting to return to familiar places and see how they have changed, or in some ways remained the same. I think it is the ways they have remained the same that make them feel like home. But to some degree these old familiar places also remind me of old haunts and old habits. Places I’d escape to and default responses I’d return to in times of crisis or fear. These old habits and haunts were often emotionally comforting while, at the same time, somewhat limiting to the ongoing process of transformation in my life. I’ve come to realize, in my times of crisis and fear, that God sees a whole new avenue of transformative experiences that involve the unexpected, the inconvenient and sometimes uncomfortable things of life. It is at times like these, faced with these different means of God’s transformative work, that my roots of faith are pushed into deeper places of God’s provision and promises.

There is a verse in Isaiah 25 that caused me to reflect again of those places of God’s work and God’s intention regarding my life. The prophet Isaiah writes these words: “O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.”

As I reflected on these words there were a couple thoughts that came to me. First I am often taking on the role of God in attempting to work wonders. The thing about the wonders I work is that they aren’t quite as wonderful or wonder filled as I hoped. They tend to be short-lived and less beneficial to others as I imagined. My gratefulness will increase as I take moments every day to notice the wonders God performs. Too often I only notice the spectacular displays of wonder instead of the ordinary every day miracles God is doing; like a kind word spoken to me, or awakening to a new day with senses capable of enjoying creation. My ordinary days are jammed packed with the wonders of God. The problem isn’t the lack of God’s wondrous works, but in my diminished ability to notice and give thanks. I am just slow to awaken to God’s glory painted with a true “artist’s eye” across all of life. When I try to assume the role of a wonder worker my life, as well as the lives of others, is the lesser for it. When I acknowledge and celebrate the wonders God works my life is expanded and expansive.

The second thought that captured my attention was that these wonderful works were prepared long ago in perfect faithfulness. I am forever being reminded that God is not represented by happenstance or luck, but by a plan formed in perfect faithfulness long before I ever was around. The Lord God has invited me into His grand story that expresses His perfect faithfulness to me and to the rest of His creation. Therefore, when I encounter those life situations that are less than desirable, from my perspective, I can be assured that there is a larger more compelling story to seek. Even the unexpected, inconvenient and uncomfortable are part of those plans formed in perfect faithfulness. The true revelation is discovering God, His love and His grace, in the midst of them. For in discovering the Lord there I find not only a faithfully formed plan, but also the One who is perfectly faithful. And isn’t this the ultimate goal, to discover not just a good plan, but a perfectly faithful friend and companion, a Savior who loves me with perfect faithfulness? God is always leading me to see beyond the wonder of His works to the wonder of His person. He longs for my faith to deepen in Him and not just to deepen in a good plan. In this day, may the wonder and goodness of Christ’s presence, abiding with you, in you, and all around you, lead to praise, deeper roots of faith, and greater attachment to Him. May the experience of His transformative power result in the manifestation of His good fruits in, and through, your life. Here is a song to help further draw you into the perfect faithfulness of the Lord.