Surprise!

I stopped at the produce stand this weekend to get some fresh fruits and vegetables. After picking up several yummy items, I decided to get a watermelon. My kids love watermelon in the summer, and sometimes I think I could a whole one by myself!

I took the watermelon home and pulled out a big knife. I carefully sliced it open and the two sides fell apart, and I was shocked at what I saw. I gasped aloud, and my mom yelled over from the living room to see what was wrong. It was bright yellow inside!

A yellow watermelon?? At first I thought it must have looked ripe on the outside, but been unripe on the inside. Then I wondered if some crazy scientist had mixed up the seeds between a watermelon and a pineapple. But I took a chance, and tasted it. It tasted exactly like a bright red juicy watermelon!


For those of you who knew yellow watermelons existed, you probably think I am very silly. But I never even heard of a yellow watermelon, much less seen one up close and personal! The sign on the watermelon stand didnt say anything about yellow watermelons, so I thought I was purchasing a regular ol’ red watermelon.

It took a little prodding and convincing, but finally everyone agreed to taste the yellow watermelon, and then, everyone wanted more. It was delicious! In fact, if I closed my eyes, I couldnt even tell the difference!

I thought this was a prime example of exactly how God operates in our lives. (I know, I know… it is amazing how I can turn a little watermelon eating into a biblical thought isnt it? My kids always poke fun at me about that. Smiles.)

But God truly does deal in surprises. We seek out to get a certain thing, we think we are getting what we wanted, and then God surprises us with something even better than we imagined! Something more exciting, fun and fulfilling than we thought was possible?
Obedience to His call on our life is kind of like this, dont you think? We want to obey God, but we are afraid to try to something new. We think we are going down the same old path, but when we begin to lean on God, He throws in a little surprise for us. When we finally trust Him fully and give into His plan for our life, the outcome is so much better than what we thought we would get!

Submitting to God’s will often requires costs or sacrifices, but if we truly trust Him, we will believe in our hearts that He will have something far better for us than we ever expected, or can even imagine. I dont know about you, but I am axiously awaiting for God to throw me a few surprises!

Proverbs 3:5 Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline; don’t sulk under his loving correction. It’s the child he loves that God corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this. (The Message)

Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked hard at them and said, “No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it.”

8 Comments

  1. Laurie Ann on Monday, August 4, 2008 at 6:43 pm

    Yes, God does deal in some surprises in our lives, doesn’t He? I had heard of a yellow watermelon, but never had one. My FIL split one open a couple of Sunday’s ago and my first question was, “Where are the seeds?” I was delighted!



  2. DeeDee @ No Greater Joy on Monday, August 4, 2008 at 8:40 pm

    We had a reverse situation several years ago. We had been in Florida for a vacation and stopped at one of the curb side markets on our way home. They had a large sign over the “yellow” watermelons. It had been years since I had one – and my children had never… so, we bought one and brought it home to Alabama… They could not wait until we cut it so they could see/eat a YELLOW watermelon.
    All standing around as their dad cut it open…. RED as could be. LOL Of, course it was too far to go back to Florida to take it back and swap for a real yellow one… and they gave me a real hard time – Yea, mom, tell us about those Yellow watermelons!!! LOL
    Not sure if they ever got one. Maybe I should look for one again.

    Blessings to you Tracie,
    DeeDee
    P.S. Did you ever mail me my evaluation? (from SheSpeaks) Or do you need my address?



  3. Karan on Monday, August 4, 2008 at 9:10 pm

    Amen and let the surprises begin!
    In His Love and Hope,
    Karan



  4. Mari on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 at 3:09 am

    A yellow watermelon would be a surprise to me. And you are so right, God really does surprise us and His is always MUCH better than what we had wanted. He’s just so cool like that.



  5. "B" His Girl on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 at 2:04 pm

    Thanks for the verse and encouragement prayer at the end of your post. I receive it.



  6. tiggerdaisy on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 at 9:27 pm

    What a great post! I didn’t know there were yellow watermelons…I’ve only seen the red ones. I would have gasped out loud…maybe even screamed. And my husband would have laughed at/with me for being “overly dramatic.” hehehehehe

    Again, wonderful post. And I truly loved reading the Proverbs 3:5 in The Message translation. LOVED IT!

    Prayers and blessings,
    Rebecca



  7. Bobbie on Thursday, August 7, 2008 at 2:51 pm

    Yellow Watermellons are very popular in my area- we look for them at the Farmer’s Market- but usually have to settle for the regular red ones. They are very popular and actually much tastier than the red ones!



  8. Joyful on Friday, August 8, 2008 at 1:43 am

    Beautiful Tracie. I’m looking for God’s surprises.

    Also, praying for your Mom.
    Trusting and waiting on Him,
    Joy



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Tracie Miles is a bestselling author and the Director of COMPEL Training with Proverbs 31 Ministries.  She helps women grow stronger in their faith, pursue the life of purpose God designed them for and live a life of peace, joy and happiness despite their circumstances.

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