There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it (Mat 28:2 NIV).
Most people prepare for life by expecting what normally happens. We plan a birthday, and we expect food, greetings, and gifts. We prepare for a trip, and we expect the usual delays, expenses, and destinations. Our expectations are often limited by experience because experience teaches us what usually happens.
But everything changes when God enters the picture. The disciples had heard Jesus say that He would rise again, and the resurrection itself was already more than anyone could naturally expect. Yet when that morning came, God did not simply deliver the resurrection quietly. He announced it with an earthquake, an angel whose appearance was like lightning, and a stone that moved from the entrance of the tomb. The guards were so terrified that they became like dead men. God did not merely meet expectations; He overwhelmed them.
This is often how God works. We may prepare for what we think He will do, but God is never confined by our imagination. We might expect an answer, but not the way it arrives. We might expect provision, but not the source. We might expect a door to open, but God may remove the entire wall. As Ephesians 3:20 reminds us, God is able to do exceedingly beyond what we ask or think.
That does not mean we should expect God to satisfy every wish or create spectacular events simply to impress us. It means we should leave room for His greatness. The proper posture before God is not confident prediction but expectant wonder. The women came to the tomb carrying spices; they left carrying a message. They expected to find a dead Jesus, but instead encountered the risen Christ.
The best way to prepare for God is to be amazed. Faith does not shrink God down to the size of our plans. It makes room for a God who can surprise us. When He exceeds our expectations, we should not merely say, “That was unexpected.” We should say, “That is what God can do.”
