THE UPPER ROOM DEVOTIONAL 26TH NOVEMBER 2025, WEDNESDAY MESSAGE
God’s Surprises
Monica A. Andermann (New York, USA)
Today’s Reading
Proverbs 16:1-9
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I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. – Jeremiah 29:11 (NRSVUE)
Every summer, I look forward to planting a vegetable garden. My planning begins in early spring when I carefully select my seeds and plot where they will be sown. However, things don’t always grow as I anticipate. There are always plants that sprout and then wither before they can produce fruit. Often there are vegetables that flourish from seeds planted in the previous year or from seeds dropped by birds and other animals that share my yard. This year I reaped two large turnips which grew unexpectedly among my collard greens.
I’ve come to love these happy surprises. Often these rogue plants grow better and yield more at harvest time than the ones I’ve purposely planted and nurtured.
Throughout my life, I have carefully plotted and nurtured plans only to find that God has something else in store for me. After I was laid off from my long-term employment, a new career with more satisfying work emerged. After I was forced to leave the home I thought I would live in for the rest of my life, a more suitable home became available. When things don’t work out the way we plan, we can hold on to hope in God’s future for us and rejoice in God’s surprises.
Thought for the Day
Today I will rejoice in God’s surprises.
Prayer Focus
To cultivate joy in spite of disappointments
Read More
More from Monica A. Andermann
Today’s Prayer
All-knowing God, help us to follow where you lead. Together we will rejoice in the destination. Amen.
The Upper Room Devotional 26th November 2025 is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing—both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers. Read More
