When The Unexpected Happens

Your unexpected turn may have caught you by surprise, but it didn't surprise God. Trust Him to lead you through it.

Hi friend,

Welcome to the July edition of Encouragement with Erica. This month, The Lord has been reminding me of what to do when the unexpected happens.

Have you ever had the unexpected knock you off your feet?
I remember the first time I came home to a husband that was higher than a kite...and no, he wasn't outside flying one.

Talk about an unexpected turn for my life. Never in a million years would I have imagined this. I had been praying for years that God would use our family for His Kingdom mission, and then I realized right underneath my nose, the exact opposite had been happening.

Maybe you can remember a time a person you loved dearly broke your heart too? Although it caught you by surprise, it didn't catch God by surprise.

Or how about that time I had given over my 10-year baby of a business, the thing I had poured my blood, sweat, and tears into, just for the new owners to talk horribly about me behind my back and then proceed to remove me as founder and delete me from the company altogether.

Talk about an unexpected deep hurt. I had prayed for the previous decade for that company and had fully trusted the new leaders, just to be smacked in the face.

Maybe you too can remember a time when you were betrayed by somebody that you trusted fully? Although the betrayal caught you by surprise, it didn't catch God by surprise.

Or how about the time we had been faithfully and wholeheartedly believing my little nephew's broken body would be healed here on earth so that we could enjoy time with him, only for God to bring him home to heaven 8 days after he was born?

Talk about an unexpected phone call, one that was faith-rocking. We had fully trusted God would answer that prayer how we wanted, only to learn that He doesn't work that way.

Maybe you too have lost a loved one too soon or unexpectedly? Maybe it broke your heart, rocked your faith, and made you bitter too? Although the loss caught you by surprise, it didn't catch God by surprise.

So how might this be encouragement for your soul?
Well...this past month many unexpected things have happened in my life too. Unexpected should be the normal for life here on earth I feel like. We have no crystal ball. We cannot predict the future. We can only learn from the past.

In the moment when our world is being turned upside down by this fallen side of heaven, we can have a hard time remembering how many times in the past God has pulled us through. But in time, when the hurt isn't so fresh, we can look back and see the hand of God.

I challenge you today to set aside a moment and just reflect on how many times over your past you have seen the hand of God in your life. Times when you couldn't see it in the moment, but reflecting now you can.

If in this exact moment of your life, some things have caught you off guard, I want to remind you that it has not caught God off guard. I want to remind you that He is fighting for you. I want to remind you that our life is so much more than this temporal earth. I know it's all we can wrap our minds around, but eternity is so much bigger and there may just be a massive spiritual warfare happening behind the scenes of your current tragedy, heartbreak, or unexpected moment.

Looking back now, I can see how my husband's depression and addiction were a direct attack of the enemy literally over his life. The Bible says satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy and that is literal. His mission is to kill our lives and remove us from God. I took my husband's struggles personally, as if he was trying to hurt me.

But over time God has shown me how there was a much bigger spiritual war happening for the soul of my husband. And while I am not saying it's alright for people to abuse or hurt you, what I am saying is maybe God's angels are fighting for that person's soul right now. Maybe it's bigger than just how it is making you feel. Often our feelings do not align with the facts of God. They just don't, so they cannot always be trusted.

And please hear my heart. That is not to minimize your feelings. Because when I was going through my heartbreak, I didn't care. All I cared about was how broken I was feeling and I needed time and space to heal. God allows that and welcomes it. Don't be afraid to bring your brokenness to Him and take the time you need to heal. For the past two years, God has graciously carried me while I have allowed space and time for Him to heal my heart. He will do the same for you.

But also just be reminded that it didn't catch God by surprise. Be reminded that nothing catches God by surprise. That heartbreak you are feeling...He is right there catching your tears and they will not be wasted. He sees your tears. He hears your cry. He is working for good on your behalf in and through this situation.

And He has gone before you. He knows all of the unexpected turns your life will take. He surrounds you. His angel armies are fighting for you, from side to side, front and back, God's got your back. Even if it doesn't feel like it. Especially when it doesn't feel like it. God's got your back my friend. He has gone ahead of you.

In this unexpected time, you have a choice: Do you choose to believe God is against you? Do you choose to believe He is for you? Do you choose to believe God doesn't see you? Do you choose to believe He is fighting for you?

There's nothing the enemy wants more than for you to turn from God. That is his mission. Don't misplace the evil of the enemy onto a good God who loves you. I know the unexpected can hurt, but God is in it with you.

Trust God in your unexpected. Allow Him to carry you in this moment. You don't always have to stand strong. Sometimes, you can just allow God to carry you. Let Him pick you up and carry you through this unexpected turn. You can trust Him to carry you out the other side.

Be Encouraged My Friend,

Erica Hostettler

PS. Last night The Lord brought tears to my eyes as I remembered the moment on my living room couch two years ago when my husband had come home early from work ready to end his life. In that moment, we heard a knock on the door. It was a friend from church who had no clue that Lucas was in the place he was in. But the Lord knew. God saw my husband and the spiritual attack against his life. God prompted our friend from church to knock on our door then. Her words were that she "couldn't resist coming". She doesn't live near us. She made a special trip in that exact moment when he was ready to end it all. God used her to remind Lucas that the enemy was trying to steal his very life. God fought for Lucas when Lucas couldn't fight for himself. I made a short video last night that was inspired by that day on my couch in the living room. Check it out here and be encouraged to let God hold you. Share it with a friend who may be encouraged by it.

PSS. I've been working on a discipleship program for the lady who feels lost in her identity. EmpowHERed Identity will launch soon so stay tuned! It's a 12 month discipleship journey to grow in your identity in Christ.

Before that launches, our bi-annual Women of the Word retreat is OPEN FOR FALL! I wanted you on my inside list to be the first to know. There are only 3 upgraded beds left (talking King size bed and beautiful view). We have a limited number of overnight spots available, but will also have Saturday only and possibly even virtual tickets available!

Check out the details here and get your ticket today. Payment plan options expires soon! I hope to see you there for the most amazing life changing weekend.

Until next month my friend, remember that God is ahead of you in this unexpected season. He is fighting for you.

Categories: : Faith