The Daytona 500 returns on Sunday as fans are once again filled with anticipation for NASCAR's biggest race of the year!
We so often see surprising winners, astonishing finishes, and the race always seems to deliver. This was especially true last year.
After going winless in 357 races throughout his career, NASCAR driver, Michael McDowell, won the 2021 Daytona 500 in dramatic fashion.
Despite not having the best car and only leading for part of the final lap, McDowell avoided the eight-car fiery crash at the end and won the sport’s most iconic race.
Many fans were stunned to see McDowell in the winner’s circle, but the chaos and uncertainty during the final lap have become expected in recent years.
After the race, McDowell said, “This is the Daytona 500, man. If you were shocked or surprised at how that just happened, then you haven’t been watching this race, certainly not in recent years.”
It’s scary to watch so many drivers crash and see fire coming from their cars (thankfully, everyone was okay), but the excitement of the final lap keeps fans at the edge of their seats while expecting a great finish.
McDowell summed it up this way: “As a sports fan, all you can ask for is not knowing what’s coming next, right? The big finish at the end. You never know what’s coming next in this race. Certainly not these days. So, it’s pretty entertaining and fun, I would think.”
With fans experiencing such astounding moments in the Daytona 500’s final lap, it’s no wonder they keep coming back for more thrilling and unpredictable finishes.
McDowell’s comment about the race, “you never know what’s coming next,” can also be true in our own chaotic lives. But when filled with wild surprises, “fiery” situations, and uncertainty, we don’t typically say they’re “pretty entertaining and fun.”
Or do we?
As followers of Jesus, we regularly face unpredictability and uncertainty because we don’t know what God’s going to do “during our race” or how He’s going to do it.
Although we don’t know when He’s going to show up, we do know He’ll do something, so we keep going back to Him (“at the edge of our seats”) trusting Him and waiting for Him with expectancy.
The truth is, God oftentimes shows up in surprising and shocking ways. The more we experience Him and read in Scripture about His “final lap” miracles, we start embracing the fact we “never know what’s coming next” and how God will deliver.
As a result, we eagerly await how He’s going to amaze us this time around.
The Bible gives us encouraging stories where God moves in strange and shocking ways and provides a great finish. Here are a few:
Jesus was born to a virgin in a manger.
Paul killed Christians, then became one, and wrote most of the New Testament.
Jesus used Peter to build His church after being denied by him three times.
God chose David, the smallest of all his brothers.
God gave Abraham a son, Isaac, and then asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac before He saved him at the last moment.
Also, there's a story about how Jesus healed a paralyzed man by first forgiving him of his sins.
Luke 5:25-26 (TLB) describes the scene: “And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped to his feet, picked up his mat and went home praising God! Everyone present was gripped with awe and fear. And they praised God, remarking over and over again, ‘We have seen strange things today.’”
Today, let’s place our hope and faith in God to come through for us in astonishing ways that reveal His power and glory…and remember to joyfully respond with praise!
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You are such a big and powerful God, yet You love me and know me. Thank you for the ways You work in my life and I trust You will continue to show up in surprising ways that accomplish Your purposes and reveal Your glory. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.Discussion Questions for PACKS:
When has God moved in unforeseen ways in your life?
In what ways are you presently trusting God to surprisingly show up...and praying with expectancy?
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