The God of the Unexpected • El Dios de lo Inesperado

by Doris Garcia Rivera

Hagar at the desert, Jacob fights an enemy, Rahab faces spies, David prays for his son, Job’s illness, Saul’s zealotry against Christians, Jesus’ cross.

In the face of the unexpected anything can happen.

Hagar encounters an Angel when she expected to die together with her child; and became mother of a nation.

Jacob encounters an enemy, fighting till dawn; and became a new person, with a new name. 

Rahab hid the enemy spies; and became the great, great grandmother of Jesus. 

David begged God for his son’s life; the baby died and later Solomon was born. 

Job lost everything and encounters God in the storm, his eyes were opened.

Saul’s zeal encountered Jesus and became the Apostle of the gentiles. 

Jesus’ curse at the cross became our salvation and hope.

Facing COVID 19 our lives and deaths have been changed, our futures muddled, our plans disordered. Much like the children of “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” unexpected things have happened. 

I will like to share some thoughts with you. 

We have been confronted with the unexpected – being locked safe at home but unemployed. Being sick at home or unable to be with our loved ones. Being tired and anxious facing infection through our work or service or impatient with our children at home. We fear the uncertainties and our lack of control.    

Yes, a lot of unexpected things are going on… and it occurred to me that as we approach a different Mother’s Day, it was important to remember that this celebration was born because two women - Julia Ward Howe in 1872 and Anna Jarvis in 1908 did the unexpected. They decided to honor women peacemakers – they recognized the worth and value of pacifist mothers against war and mothers addressing public health issues.

As we face COVID 19 but also hunger, domestic violence, the loss of our loved ones and hopelessness, we grief. Even when millions of health workers fight to keep our families alive and millions other serve us every day in so many ways, we also face other enemies behind this virus - the inequity, the structural racism, the political and economic power struggles and deep down our lack of love and solidarity. 

Amidst so many unexpected situations, we might say these things are good for some or bad for others. But this is a folly thought for we have no way to know what the future holds.

And yet, the witness of these biblical characters’ faith and these women commitment to justice, give us reasons to celebrate peace-making and the value of life. They help us remember that our God moves amidst the unexpected opening our eyes to new realities and the fact that we are not alone. Amidst the unexpected, our faith opens the space to celebrate life, friendship & trust. To be grateful for our family & community. To remember that Grace is everywhere and at work in unexpected places and people. 

We pray that the God of the unexpected give us all the strength to hope, the courage to work for peace and the trust to believe; for anything can happen!

The Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America – Bautistas por la Paz holds you in our prayers and keeps working to support peacemakers in their passion to build peace and justice.