Surprise…It’s God | Stan Mitchell

Stan Mitchell explores a profound “spiritual discovery” earned through forty years of ministry: the truth that the divine often enters our lives in the most unexpected, unpredictable, and even unwanted ways. Drawing on what he calls the “laws of metaphysics,” Stan illustrates how God frequently flies beneath the “radar of our hearts”—our rigid expectations and religious presuppositions—to reach us in moments of deep disappointment. He shares how holiness often arrives disguised as failure, pain, or poverty, mirroring the humble and inauspicious birth of Christ in a Bethlehem stable.

The heart of the message focuses on the biblical story of Joseph, a “good man” who initially missed what God was doing because he could only interpret Mary’s pregnancy through the prism of his own pain and religious law. Mitchell connects this ancient struggle to modern-day challenges, including the experiences of families navigating the intersection of faith and the LGBTQ community, as well as those facing illness or loss. Ultimately, Mitchell invites listeners to maintain a “beginner’s mind,” remaining open to the possibility that what feels like a crushing blow might actually be God standing on their doorstep, offering a blessing in disguise.