Not What We Expected | Get Used to Different

Jul 05, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: When Waiting Years Collides With God’s “Within Days”

The gap between human timelines and divine surprises stretches our faith thin. Yet God’s interruptions often arrive as gifts wrapped in impossible timing, rewriting stories we thought we understood. His faithfulness isn’t measured by speed but by sacred precision, turning years of waiting into sudden joy. Like a child’s laugh disrupting solemnity, His plans disrupt our calendars to remind us He authors redemption. What feels delayed is often divine preparation. [01:57]

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me… to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor.”
(Isaiah 61:1-2, NIV)

Reflection: Where have you labeled “waiting” as “wasted” in your life? How might God be preparing you to receive a surprise that requires this exact season?

Day 2: The Messiah Who Chooses Crowded Tables Over Crowded Arenas

Jesus didn’t seek stages but dinner tables, prioritizing presence over platforms. Tax collectors and sinners found seats at Matthew’s feast because the Savior valued messy intimacy over spotless reputation. Healing happens not in the rush of mobs but in the space between shared bread and honest conversation. True authority kneels to wash feet, not climb podiums. [19:10]

“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him… Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.’”
(Matthew 9:10-12, NIV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs you to pull up a chair more than post a sermon? Where is God asking you to trade efficiency for presence?

Day 3: Healing’s Slow Unfolding in a Quick-Fix World

Jesus healed one trembling hand at a time, refusing the shortcut of mass spectacle. In a culture addicted to immediacy, divine work often unfolds like dawn – gradual, persistent, intimate. Our scars become altars when touched by unhurried grace. The God who numbers hairs on heads counts seconds spent kneeling beside the broken. [29:17]

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I rise on the wings of the dawn… your right hand will hold me fast.”
(Psalm 139:7-10, NIV)

Reflection: What ache in you or others feels “too small” for God’s attention? How might His slowness be His carefulness?

Day 4: Trading Ashes for Crowns in Unlikely Alleys

God exchanges mourning’s grit for beauty’s glimmer not in palaces but ash heaps. The Messiah’s first sermon promised crowns to those buried in debris, oil of joy to those drenched in tears. Redemption crawls into our cellars before redecorating our parlors. Our ruins become His raw materials. [18:36]

“To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”
(Isaiah 61:3, NIV)

Reflection: What “ash heap” in your life are you guarding instead of surrendering? How might God want to compost your pain into fertile ground?

Day 5: Following the Rabbi Who Loves Questions More Than Answers

Jesus invited timid Joshua and curious Abby into discovery, not dogma. Faith flourishes in the soil of “I wonder” more than “I know.” The Messiah still walks with those clutching more doubts than certainty, turning quests into intimacy. Trust grows when we stop performing competence and start practicing companionship. [33:22]

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
(Proverbs 3:5, NIV)

Reflection: What question feels too risky to bring to Jesus? How might asking it – not solving it – deepen your walk with Him today?

Sermon Summary

Expectations sit in the driver’s seat until God’s timing takes the wheel. God is not just a God of time, but a God of timing, and his surprises move hearts from tidy plans to surrendered lives. Jesus then steps into the center of those redirected expectations. He refuses to be squeezed into a warrior mold and instead shows up as Savior for all, aiming his compassion at the poor, the brokenhearted, the captive, and the overlooked.

Isaiah 61 sets the agenda. The anointed one proclaims good news to the poor, binds up the brokenhearted, opens prison doors, clothes mourners with beauty, and plants oaks of righteousness for the display of God’s splendor. That text names a kingdom that lifts those bent low and turns ash into a crown. It stretches the horizon beyond a select few to the whole field of human need.

Matthew 9 keeps pressing the point. Jesus sits at a table ringed by tax collectors and sinners and says the sick need a doctor, not the healthy. Holiness does not back away; holiness takes a seat, shares bread, and heals. The mission refuses to be a gated community.

The crowds chase platform, but Jesus chooses presence. He could have healed everyone in one sweeping moment, yet he moves person to person, pain to pain, story to story. Jesus does not just view pain; he steps into it. He comes to be with, not merely for, and that pace re-teaches love.

The contrast between the crowd and the one becomes a gentle but firm call. Real ministry does not hunt for the biggest room; it makes room for the person right in front. Sometimes the bravest act is to step into the line oneself, slow down, and let Jesus see, steady, and reframe a life. Psalm 139 anchors that trust: there is no height or depth beyond his hand, and his nearness becomes a new lens that helps a disciple live with him, not just talk about him.

Even the children’s story names it cleanly. Following Jesus is not something to master in the mind, but something to make room for in the heart. In questions and uncertainties, trust grows best where presence is kept close. Jesus is more than expected, and closer than imagined.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s timing reframes human expectations. [02:39] God’s way with time is personal and precise, not random. When timing belongs to him, disappointment can become doorway, and delays can carry hidden provision. Expectation moves from control to attention, watching for the God who writes better turns than anyone could plan. [02:39]
2. Isaiah 61 defines Jesus’ mission to all. [18:20] The anointed work names real people in real pain and brings concrete gifts: good news, binding, freedom, and beauty. Justice and mercy meet as mourners are comforted and the shamed are replanted as oaks. Any version of discipleship that sidelines the poor or the broken steps outside his job description. [18:20]
3. Table fellowship exposes who needs healing. [19:10] Dinner with sinners is not compromise; it is clinical practice for the Great Physician. Proximity, not distance, is where holiness does its deepest work. Self-assured “health” often masks the sickness of pride, while honest need becomes the doorway to wholeness. [19:10]
4. Presence over spectacle shapes ministry. [29:17] Scale impresses crowds, but presence transforms persons. Jesus chooses the slower road of eye contact, names, and touch, which dignifies stories and rewrites shame. Faithfulness looks like showing up, staying long enough to listen, and trusting that depth beats speed. [29:17]
5. With-ness, not just for-ness, sustains trust. [31:18] Advocacy matters, but companionship carries a soul through the night. Psalm 139’s everywhere-nearness turns panic into prayer and hurry into hope. When life resists quick answers, the heart that makes room for his presence learns steady courage. [31:18]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:54] - Adoption surprise and timing
[02:39] - God of timing, not just time
[03:00] - Resetting expectations of Jesus
[18:20] - Isaiah 61 and the anointed mission
[19:10] - Physician at the table
[26:29] - Crowds approach, Jesus moves to need
[29:17] - One-by-one healing and presence
[30:36] - Invitation to be seen and slow down
[30:56] - Psalm 139 and nearness
[31:38] - The Chosen Adventures for kids
[33:22] - Trusting Jesus amid uncertainty
[33:37] - Closing prayer and sending

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
- Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV):
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
- Matthew 9:10-12 (NIV):
While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.”
- Psalm 139:7-10 (NIV):
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

Observation Questions

In Isaiah 61:1-3, what specific actions does the “anointed one” take to address human suffering?
How does Jesus respond to the Pharisees’ criticism of his choice to eat with tax collectors and sinners in Matthew 9:10-12?
What contrast does the sermon highlight between the crowds’ desire for spectacle and Jesus’ approach to healing? [29:17]
According to Psalm 139:7-10, what does God’s “everywhere-nearness” mean for those feeling lost or overwhelmed?

Interpretation Questions

Why might Jesus’ mission in Isaiah 61:1-3 have been surprising to those expecting a warrior-like Messiah? How does this redefine power?
In Matthew 9:10-12, Jesus says, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” What does this reveal about the relationship between holiness and proximity to brokenness?
The sermon states, “Jesus does not just view pain; he steps into it.” How does his one-by-one healing method challenge modern approaches to ministry or care? [29:17]
Psalm 139 emphasizes God’s nearness even in darkness or distance. How might this truth reframe someone’s response to uncertainty or suffering?

Application Questions

Isaiah 61 calls believers to “bind up the brokenhearted” and “proclaim freedom.” Who in your life or community might feel “bent low” right now, and what is one practical way to offer them hope this week?
Jesus chose to eat with those society overlooked. Is there someone you’ve been hesitant to engage with because of their background, struggles, or differences? What step could you take to “share bread” with them? [19:10]
The sermon asks, “Who is Jesus asking you to be with, not just do for?” [30:03] What relationships or responsibilities in your life need less efficiency and more intentional presence?
Psalm 139 says God’s hand “holds us fast” even in darkness. When have you felt tempted to rush through pain instead of letting Jesus “see and steady” you? What would it look like to slow down and trust his nearness today?
The sermon warns against “self-assured health” masking pride. Where might you be resisting vulnerability or hiding your need for healing? How could honesty with God or others open a doorway to wholeness? [19:10]

Sermon Clips

61s

#GodOfTiming

“``And, you know, Jaemon, Cassie, I, we remind each other all the time that our God isn't just a God of time, but he's a God of timing. He's a God in all of the details that we need in our lives, and we couldn't imagine our life any other way now. God, he has a way of surprising us, doesn't he? Of blowing through our expectations and setting our eyes and our hearts on a life with him, a life better than we could ever imagine. So today, we're gonna take a look at some different expectations that Jesus had for his followers. Many of them expected Jesus to look and feel and do a certain way, but he was more than what they had imagined. Instead, he gave them and he gives us a new life altogether.”

81s

#JesusSeesYou

“He doesn't follow the crowds, the crowds follow him. And he certainly could have stood in front of that entire crowd and healed them simultaneously all at once. But he chose to take time with each and every one of them, one by one. You see, Jesus doesn't just view our pain, he steps into it with us. He isn't scared of our pain or our situations. He takes time to see you, to see to see me, to see all of us where we're at in every circumstance. The Messiah was expected to come and rescue quickly, swiftly, But Jesus shows a different way, a way to be with us, not just for us. Today, I wonder, who is Jesus asking you to be with? Not just before. Someone to be with away from the crowds in a slow, intentional moment, just for them. Who do you need to see in your life? That is the truest expectation of our Jesus, to stop, to see others, and to share his hope.”

73s

#GodSurprisesUs

“And we never expected what this last year would be like jumping into life as a family of three, but God did, and he provided so much that we needed and more. And, you know, Jaemon, Cassie, I, we remind each other all the time that our God isn't just a God of time, but he's a God of timing. He's a God in all of the details that we need in our lives, and we couldn't imagine our life any other way now. God, he has a way of surprising us, doesn't he? Of blowing through our expectations and setting our eyes and our hearts on a life with him, a life better than we could ever imagine. So today, we're gonna take a look at some different expectations that Jesus had for his followers. Many of them expected Jesus to look and feel and do a certain way, but he was more than what they had imagined. Instead, he gave them and he gives us a new life altogether.”

62s

#StopSeeShareHope

“The Messiah was expected to come and rescue quickly, swiftly, But Jesus shows a different way, a way to be with us, not just for us. Today, I wonder, who is Jesus asking you to be with? Not just before. Someone to be with away from the crowds in a slow, intentional moment, just for them. Who do you need to see in your life? That is the truest expectation of our Jesus, to stop, to see others, and to share his hope. Or maybe today, you just need to start by getting in the line yourself and allowing Jesus to see you, to stand, to slow down, to spend time with him, and to remember those powerful words in Psalms one thirty nine.”

80s

#AllowJesusToSeeYou

“You see, Jesus doesn't just view our pain, he steps into it with us. He isn't scared of our pain or our situations. He takes time to see you, to see to see me, to see all of us where we're at in every circumstance. The Messiah was expected to come and rescue quickly, swiftly, But Jesus shows a different way, a way to be with us, not just for us. Today, I wonder, who is Jesus asking you to be with? Not just before. Someone to be with away from the crowds in a slow, intentional moment, just for them. Who do you need to see in your life? That is the truest expectation of our Jesus, to stop, to see others, and to share his hope. Or maybe today, you just need to start by getting in the line yourself and allowing Jesus to see you, to stand, to slow down, to spend time with him, and to remember those powerful words in Psalms one thirty nine.”

87s

#LeadDontFollow

“We see him do something different here, something slower, something intentional. He doesn't follow the crowds, the crowds follow him. And he certainly could have stood in front of that entire crowd and healed them simultaneously all at once. But he chose to take time with each and every one of them, one by one. You see, Jesus doesn't just view our pain, he steps into it with us. He isn't scared of our pain or our situations. He takes time to see you, to see to see me, to see all of us where we're at in every circumstance. The Messiah was expected to come and rescue quickly, swiftly, But Jesus shows a different way, a way to be with us, not just for us. Today, I wonder, who is Jesus asking you to be with? Not just before. Someone to be with away from the crowds in a slow, intentional moment, just for them. Who do you need to see in your life? That is the truest expectation of our Jesus, to stop, to see others, and to share his hope.”

67s

#BeyondTheCrowd

“And that's not always a bad thing to follow the crowds for our expectations in life, but Jesus, he shows us a different way. We see him do something different here, something slower, something intentional. He doesn't follow the crowds, the crowds follow him. And he certainly could have stood in front of that entire crowd and healed them simultaneously all at once. But he chose to take time with each and every one of them, one by one. You see, Jesus doesn't just view our pain, he steps into it with us. He isn't scared of our pain or our situations. He takes time to see you, to see to see me, to see all of us where we're at in every circumstance. The Messiah was expected to come and rescue quickly, swiftly, But Jesus shows a different way, a way to be with us, not just for us.”

40s

#BetterThanWeImagine

“God, he has a way of surprising us, doesn't he? Of blowing through our expectations and setting our eyes and our hearts on a life with him, a life better than we could ever imagine. So today, we're gonna take a look at some different expectations that Jesus had for his followers. Many of them expected Jesus to look and feel and do a certain way, but he was more than what they had imagined. Instead, he gave them and he gives us a new life altogether.”

Ask a question about this sermon

GatheringPoint Church This sermon · AI assistant

How does Jesus challenge common expectations of Messiah?

What does it mean that Jesus is with us?

How should Christians prioritize being with over doing?