My paternal grandmother, Mama Kate was our family storyteller. She would retell stories from her childhood…her children’s childhood…the Great Depression…The Great War…the war her sons served in WWII. She had a repertoire that would impress anyone. One of my great delights was listening to her recall her memories and spin them into a story…a true story.

Today, I’m gonna share one of them.

My Dad had two brothers. They were close in age so the shenanigans they got into were wild, varied, funny, and sometimes dangerous. There were times as Mama Kate told their adventures, I wondered how they had managed to grow up at all.

After school was the time to find those three boys in trouble. (Now they got into plenty at school too!) This particular day involved their cart Pappy had for them and one of their goats. You would hook the goat to the cart with a harness. The goat pulled the cart just as a mule or horse would pull a wagon. Most days the goat was agreeable and pulled the boys to the field or to get firewood or to the springhouse.

But on this particular day, the goat refused to pull the cart through the creek. No amount of hollering or using the switch could get him to budge. Uncle Jimmy, being the oldest, got out of the cart and prepared to strike the billy goat on the back of the head behind his horns. The goat anticipating what was coming tilted his head back. Uncle Jimmy’s hand was in the perfect position. That billy goat’s horn went right through Uncle Jimmy’s hand.

My Dad and his baby brother jumped out to help Uncle Jimmy. At that point, the goat headed back to the barn as fast as his legs would carry him. The cart didn’t fare too well either. It had to be repaired.

I tell this story because that’s the way things can happen, suddenly. We don’t see events, tragedies, victories, problems, or sickness coming. We are blind-sided. The event has happened and we stand in shock. Or in the Word, one of our Heroes of the Faith has prayed, believed, rested in God’s promises…maybe for years with no answer or victory. Then suddenly, one day without warning…VICTORY! ANSWERS! God has moved so undeniably. Nothing or no one else could have brought about your answer.

The Word says, “It came to pass…” and it is true. Just like tragedy that can strike suddenly and without warning, so too, our Abba God can change our circumstances in the blink of an eye.

Check and see. Sometimes events move slowly and surely…many times events happen suddenly.

Are we ready for the “suddenly”?