PERSPECTIVE: Caught Unaware with His Good Gifts

By Lee Wilson, Director of Discipleship

I was supposed to have my “welcome to Union” reception that first week of February—instead, the infamous tornado of Feb. 5, 2008 decided to ruin the party.

Nobody could have expected what happened that day. Nobody knew it was coming, obviously. Had they known it was coming, nobody would have expected Union’s community to escape the devastation with every single life preserved.

Such is the peculiar mixture of God’s providence.

It is impossible to know when he is going to do something unexpected and equally impossible to know how he will choose to show his goodness in the mayhem of our lives.

I’ll save you from the ramblings of an “old-timer” musing on eight years of ministry in and through this campus, but I won’t save you from a timely exhortation as we part ways and move forward to our own tomorrows.

“The Lord moves in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform” and he always seems to delight to catch us unaware with his good gifts. Though these gifts may feel like unpleasant detours, unexpected adventures or even crushingly hard times, they are gifts all the same.

My prayer for you as I pack up my office and close the blinds of my window overlooking the SUB hallway is that you’ll quickly come to realize a truth that has become a cornerstone of my own faith in these last eight years as Director of Discipleship at Union University.

The Lord will never give his children a serpent when they ask him for fish—Lord, help my unbelief.

Blessings to you in the name of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

About Cardinal & Cream 1030 Articles
The Cardinal & Cream is a student publication of Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. Our staff ranges from freshmen to seniors and includes a variety of majors — including journalism, public relations, advertising, marketing, digital media studies, graphic design and art majors.