Leave Room for Surprise
Careful planning is wise, but rigid control limits trust. Faith grows when we leave space for God to redirect, surprise, and shape us.
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.
— Oswald Chambers
TODAY’S OBJECTIVES
Daily Vitamin: Welcoming the unexpected.
Inspirational Story: Faith makes space for the unexpected.
Verse of the Day: Romans 12:9
DAILY VITAMIN
Welcoming the unexpected.
Some of God’s best gifts arrive unannounced. Faith makes room for what cannot be planned.
Pray for discernment when plans shift.
Say yes to one unplanned moment today.
Reflect on past detours that became gifts.
INSPIRATIONAL STORY
Leave Room for Surprise
I like plans, clear goals, and days that move forward with purpose.
But imagine holding a schedule so tight that there’s no blank space left.
Every hour accounted for.
Every outcome forecasted.
Every move thought through in advance.
It looks wise, and it feels responsible. But it can also leave you closed.
Some of the moments that shape us most never ask for permission.
They come through wrong turns or delays.
Through conversations you did not plan to have.
Through doors you never meant to walk past.
They show up unannounced.
Not everything meaningful can be engineered.
I’ve seen this in my own life.
The lessons I remember most were rarely on my agenda. They came through detours that slowed me down and moments that felt like interruptions at the time.
Looking back, those were not distractions. They were gifts.
When every part of your life is planned, there is no space for that kind of gift to land.
Leaving room for surprise does not mean living without discipline.
It means loosening your grip just enough to let God move outside your expectations.
It means admitting that control has limits, and that trust sometimes grows best in open space.
Curiosity needs room.
Wonder needs margin.
Calling often shows up sideways.
Scripture reminds us of this quiet truth: “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)
We plan with humility.
We build with open hands.
And we leave room for God to adjust the route.
Trust grows when control loosens.
There is a difference between being intentional and being rigid.
One creates movement. The other creates walls.
You can still wake up early, work hard, and aim high.
But you do not have to script every outcome to be faithful.
Sometimes the holiest thing you can do is leave a little white space.
Space to listen.
Space to say yes when you meant to say no.
Space to pause when you planned to push.
So, pause and ask yourself this today:
Where am I gripping too tightly?
What would it look like to leave a small opening for surprise?
What if the thing I cannot plan is the thing God wants to give?
Faith leaves room for the unexpected.
This season, consider where you might create space.
Trust that God is not limited by your plans.
And trust that He is gentle in the surprises He brings.
So leave room.
Room for God to redirect.
Room for life to unfold.
Because some of the best gifts arrive when you are not ready for them.
And God is faithful to meet us in the space we finally stop trying to control.
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” (Romans 12:9)
Devotion: Sincere love is free from hypocrisy and full of integrity. It calls us to reject evil and hold fast to what is good, promoting truth and righteousness in all our relationships.
Action: Write down three good, life-giving habits that you want to continue doing more.
Download January’s Calendar
WATCH THE BIBLE COME TO LIFE
THE STORY OF JACOB AND ESAU (PART 2) | GENESIS 25
What happens when people try to force God’s promise their own way?
This is Episode 19 of Bible in a Year with Jack Graham, inspired by Genesis 27 📖
👇🏽Hit the image or the link below to watch how Jacob and Rebekah carry out a plan that changes their family forever. This chapter warns us about manipulation, exposes the cost of betrayal, and calls us back to trusting God instead of scheming for what He already promised.
This is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Amen and thank you 🙏♥️