There is a great conflict within each of us. We all want wonderful things for a wonderful life. However, we also want to understand everything and have some sense of control over our future. This creates conflict.

A wonderful life is full of wonder, wonder-full. Wonder is all that you don’t understand, cannot predict, and do not control. Wonder is not found in the predictable. Wonder is not found in the controllable. Wonder is not found in the explainable. Therefore, a wonderful life is dependent upon the absence of comprehension. Your wonderful life cannot be foretold by anyone other than God Almighty. Your job is to be here for the unfolding and awe over his miraculous works on your behalf.

This morning I listened to Bob Goff’s conversation with a friend who is a magician, yes a man who does magic tricks to entertain. This magician friend described his passion in life as creating wonder in others. He makes them wonder how he did it. They wonder how it was possible, then they wonder what he’s going to do next. His objective isn’t to deceive them, but foster a deep feeling of being filled with wonder … wonder-ful.

Isn’t this the same with our God? He’s not trying to deceive you. You may feel deceived. You thought things were going to work out this way, but you got something totally different. You thought you were headed in one direction, but the road turned and life changed and you don’t even know what direction this is.

Deception is not God’s intent. He’s not trying to build your hopes up to bring them crashing down. He’s not trying to pull the rug out from under you so you face plant. He’s not trying to disrupt your entire life to leave you in discouragement. Hey sis, he’s trying to fill you with his wonder. He’s trying to show you things you’re not supposed to understand, you’re simply supposed to wonder over.

Jeremiah 33:3 “This is what the Lord says, ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’”

He won’t explain them to you, but he will tell you about them. He won’t show you exactly how it all works, but he will show you it all works out. Your mind cannot comprehend how God works. You cannot fathom the great plans he has had for you since the very beginning of creation. You cannot imagine how your life fits perfectly in his great design of everything he has ever done and everything he will ever do. Honey, you’re just supposed to live in wonder of it all.

This is your wonderful life. A life lived with eyes wide open to the mystery of it all, the majesty of his creation, the miraculous existence of you standing in the middle of everything, knowing God created you, chose you, and continues to choose you every single day to be here for it all.

Filled with wonder. Not knowing, but being okay with not knowing. Not understanding, but making peace with not understanding. And realizing this isn’t deception, this is divine work you are surrounded by.

Think about that … the seemingly unimportant details of today, the timing of it all, the alignment of everything, this is divine work. Nothing is by accident. Everything is held in the hands of the Almighty, and we are left to wonder. Wonder how. Wonder when. Wonder why. Not out of desperation, but out of sheer awe.

Has your wonder turned to desperate questioning? Have you begun to question God, question his plan, question his timing, even question his love towards you? This questioning leads to the feeling of being deceived. Deception leads to darkness. In this darkness we miss his light. We miss his presence. We miss his wonder. It all just seems dark and uncertain.

The enemy is a deceiver. Revelations 12:9 refers to Satan as “the one deceiving the whole world.” His desire is to keep you in darkness where he deceives you. He confuses and frustrates you. He isolates you and convinces you that you’re alone. He makes you feel like things will never get better and there’s no hope for your future.

Recognize his deception. This is not the work of God. This is a ploy of the enemy to steal, kill and destroy, and he will always try to turn it back on God being against you.

Psalm 77:14 says God is “the God of great wonders!” Our God does wonderful things. Things that cannot be understood. Things that will cause you to wonder. But these things are FOR YOU, NOT AGAINST YOU.

Back to this interview with a magician who only wants to fill his audience with wonder, it could be twisted as deception. But deception is not his intent. Deception is not God’s intent. Don’t twist it. Only the enemy is here to deceive. God is here to save. God is here to guide. God is here to love. God is here to WOW THE HECK OUT OF YOU!

Live in wonder. Be filled with wonder. Wonder that doesn’t have to have an answer. Wonder that doesn’t need to understand it all. Wonder that is okay with not controlling everything and simply trusts a God who sees things we cannot. Wonder that leaves us with our eyes wide open and our jaws dropping wondering how in the world God does what he does.

Psalm 19: 1-4 “The heavens keep telling the wonders of God, and the skies declare what he has done. Each day informs the following day; each night announces to the next. They don’t speak a word, and there is never the sound of a voice. Yet their message reaches all the earth, and it travels around the world.”

A new day is here for you and I. A day that tells the wonders of God. A day that reveals his beautiful creation and invites us to be part of it all. Isn’t that wonderful?