Sunday 28 June 2026

How Do We React When the Unexpected Happens?

Well, everyone knows I’m a bit of a sports geek. I make no apologies for it, I love sport in all its forms.

Last Saturday was another nail-biting sporting occasion, this time for rugby enthusiasts. The Super Rugby final had finally arrived.

Being a passionate Blues supporter (perhaps slightly biased because my son played for them!), and with the Blues having been knocked out the week before, my hopes rested firmly on the Chiefs bringing the trophy home.

The day had started so well. Earlier, we watched our grandson play for the King’s Under-15 team against Auckland Grammar, two proud and longstanding rugby schools. To our delight, King’s won, and James even scored a try. We were off to a great start and looking forward to a great result that evening. Player of the Day.

But oh no…

The Chiefs simply couldn’t get going. By halftime they were scoreless and trailing heavily. By full-time, it was one of the heaviest defeats seen in a Super Rugby final.

So how did I react?

Disappointed? Yes. Annoyed? Yes. Frustrated? Absolutely.

No one expected or predicted such an outcome.

It made me wonder: Does God ever feel disappointed, frustrated, or annoyed with us?

We know from Scripture that God is grieved by sin and angered by unrighteousness. Yet there is one important difference between God and us:

God is never surprised.

Nothing catches Him off guard. No failure, mistake, poor decision, or unexpected turn of events ever leaves Him saying, “I didn’t see that coming.”

And even more remarkable is this:

He loves us in spite of our failures.

He loves us when we succeed and when we fail. He loves us when we get it right and when we get it terribly wrong. He loves us when we disappoint ourselves and when we disappoint others.

As the Apostle Paul reminds us:

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

The unexpected may catch us by surprise, but it never catches God by surprise.

As the Soccer World Cup continues, there will no doubt be more surprises. Some favourites will be knocked out earlier than expected, while underdogs will succeed.

Tomorrow, we will all be hoping the All Whites can finish strongly in their final match against Belgium.

Sport has a way of reminding us that life is often unpredictable. Things don’t always go according to plan. Results can change in a moment. Circumstances can shift unexpectedly.

Yet while we may be surprised by what happens, God never is.

Nothing that unfolds in our lives catches Him off guard. He knows the end from the beginning. His love remains constant, His grace remains sufficient, and His purposes continue to unfold even when we cannot see the bigger picture.

That is good news—not just for rugby and soccer fans, but for every one of us.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

May we find comfort in knowing that when life surprises us, it never surprises God.

Blessings

Enosa