Unconventional

 

 

Un-con-ven-tion-al:

Not based on conforming to what is generally done or believed.  Synonyms:  Unusual; irregular; unorthodox; unfamiliar; alternative; original; unprecedented.  

As anyone who has been following God for any amount of time knows, God shows up in the most unconventional ways.  We seem to have our own ways we think or want God to show up in the midst of our circumstances.  Here is what I have learned when it comes to this; God wants us to trust Him completely in all circumstances and in order to build that trust He doesn’t want us to ever get too comfortable in thinking or knowing how He will show up in our lives and our struggles.

One story in the Bible that illustrates this is with Elijah.  In 1 Kings 17 we see that Gods provisions for Elijah are very unconventional and most of us would think it was crazy.  The first provisions are noted in 1 Kings 7:6, “The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.”  Yes you read that correctly ravens brought him bread (not the cleanest birds on the block).  Then we read, “Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land.”  What?!  The river dried up!  That provision dried up, the provision God had directed him to.  But what does Elijah do?  He waits for God to provide the next provision.  He didn’t get anxious and start looking for provision.  He didn’t murmur and complain.  He waited and guess what happened?  “Then the word of the LORD came to him: “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food." (1 King 7:8-9).  The Lord showed up and what makes this even more incredible is the place where Elijah was currently (where God had called him too originally) was a place of isolation and God still showed up! 

God’s unconventional ways are noted in His word:

NIV version says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.”-Isaiah 55:8

 

NLV version, "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”

 

So with that, it is also important that we respond in unconventional ways.

Three of our unconventional responses:

Praise:

In the midst of pain and uncertainty in our lives, or emotional response is to do the opposite of praise.  Praise, however is a key and powerful response.  It’s praising God and trusting Him to get us thru the storms of life.  It shows the enemy that we already know we will have victory because God is our rock and victor! 

“It is, of course, a fact that when we honestly praise God, something does happen as a result.  His power obviously flows into the situation, and we will soon notice a change in us or around us.  That change may be that we come to experience a real joy and happiness in the midst of what once appeared to be a miserable situation, or the situation may change.  But this is a result of praise, and must not be the motivation for praise.”-Merlin R. Carothers

Bless those who curse you:

"But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.  "Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.”-Like 6:27-29

Turn the other cheek:

 

We do not seek revenge, that belongs to the Lords and in His time He will vindicate us. 

“But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.”-Matthew 5:39

 

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About the Author: Leilani Glassmyer

Leilani is a single mom to a beautiful 4 year old little girl. She is in love with the Creator of the stars. Her mission is simple yet so big, to encourage and bring Jesus to all in need. To bring hope by loving people, writing, photography, music, poetry/spoken word and meeting people right where they are. Gods Grace is her air.