Surprise!

Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.--A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; Jeremiah 31:13 - Ecclesiastes 3:4

By Mara Hodler July 2016

How about those moments when life is moving along smoothly, it looks like you have a good view of where things are headed, you’re making progress … and then all of a sudden, surprise! A total about-face happens. Something that forces you to change and pushes you in a different direction. A complete game changer.

I find those “surprise” moments kind of scary. Having no control over a situation feels like a free fall. Not my thing! It’s at those times when my best-laid plans are strewn around me like worthless debris that I hear in my head the words, “Man proposes, but God disposes.”

I have the choice to just “go with it” or try to force and steer things back to my cherished plans. Really, it’s not so much of a choice as it is a mental attitude. Half the time, the outcome is obvious, and holding on to my plans is clearly only going to prolong the inevitable. Still, it’s hard to let go.

It’s like a good salsa dance. When two people have danced together for a long time, they learn to “read” each other and can ad-lib a dance perfectly and in perfect synchronization. In traditional salsa, the man is the leader, and the woman is attuned to his slightest pulls and guides, moving her body to follow his lead. When the couple is in sync, their movements become an extension of each other, and it’s amazing! A couple that is out of sync is pretty sad to watch. They step on each other’s toes, sometimes even fall, and at best, lack the gracefulness that the dance is supposed to convey.



I sometimes picture my life as a dance. When those “surprises” come into play, I can almost hear Jesus saying, Come on. We’ve been dancing together for so long, you know how to follow. Just let Me lead and I will make this dance spectacular.

I know in my heart that if I let Him take control, I won’t trip and fall. But it can be hard to surrender to His lead. Usually the reason is that I feel I’ve worked hard on practicing the previous routine and learning every step, and I don’t want to change. Sometimes I try to lead. And the results are, well … pathetic.

Surrender is not a common first reaction. It’s human nature to become attached to a certain outcome. We like to think we have control. We put a lot of energy into planning, and it’s hard to think that it can all be wasted by one event that nullifies our plans.

Here’s the funny thing, though: when it comes to dancing, all the routines, all the carefully choreographed dances rehearsed over and over are what allow a couple to abandon the planned dance and spontaneously create a whole new dance.

Some of the most amazing people I know recognize these troublous interjections as an invitation to a special dance. They trust so well that they are able to skip the struggle and sway in time.

The good news is that I can be sure there will be more surprises, and I have the opportunity to practice getting better at flowing instead of struggling. As I write this, I know that there are going to be unexpected happenings and events ahead that I could not have predicted. My prayer is that I will flow with the dance, and that I will not resist or struggle—at least not so much that I ruin the dance.

Jesus wants to make your life extraordinary, and He’ll use every little twirl, dip, bend, and lift to create the most beautiful dance, if you’ll just flow with it.






Activated TFI [Posted Video - "How to Be Led by the Spirit" - Joyce Meyer]