Major League Baseball’s regular season is winding down and it’s always fun to look back at the players who exceeded our expectations and the teams that ended up surprising us.

Sam Miller on ESPN.com has written an article using the premise, “If I’d Told You X Before the Season,” with the headline saying, “Things You’d Never Have Believed…Until Now.”

As Miller looks back at the season, he recalls some of the stories surpassing what we’d ever imagine happening:

  • “If I’d told you before the season Juan Soto would outhit Bryce Harper…

  • If I’d told you before the season the teams with the six best offenses in the American League would also have the six best pitching staffs…

  • If I’d told you before the season Joey Wendle and Max Muncy would be (arguably) the season’s two biggest overachievers…

  • If I’d told you before the season Jordan Hicks would average 100.5 mph with his fastball…

  • If I’d told you before the season switch-pitcher Pat Venditte would be good…”

Before the 2018 season started, baseball fans and analysts would have never anticipated what ended up taking place. Such unpredictability in sports is what keeps us watching.

As followers of Jesus, we serve a powerful, all-knowing, and incredible God who regularly does more than we could ever imagine.

Each of us could play the game “If I told you X before the season,” and share stories of how God has blown us away…and describe moments of how He has mightily moved in our lives.

When we don’t know the outcome of the tough challenges we face, we can believe in the ability of our wonderful God to surprise us and do what’s best.

The Bible explains in Ephesians 3:20 (AMP), “Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us.”

I also love how the Message translates this verse:

“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit deeply and gently within us. “

Today, let’s embrace the unpredictability yet faithfulness of God’s work in our lives. Let’s keep a lookout for the way He powerfully moves…exceeding all that we can possibly imagine in our limited understanding.

Thankfully, we can predict and know that He’s good and His Spirit is within us. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank you for all the times You show up in ways that totally surprise me. So often the way You move is better than I can imagine. Thank you for answering my prayers according to Your will, as Your plans far exceed anything I can come up with. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.