I believe we will see a lot of God’s suddenlies in 2026 and we need to prepare so that we don’t miss them, because by the nature of a suddenly they are unexpected.
There were lots of suddenlies at His first coming. For example, Zacharias was doing what hundreds of priests had done over the centuries when suddenly the routine ritual was interrupted by an angel of the Lord.
Mary was probably doing a routine job. She certainly wasn’t in the temple when suddenly on angel turned up.
The shepherds were on an ordinary night shift when suddenly an angel appeared and was then accompanied by thousands of angels and that dark and dreary night was changed into a divine display of heavenly glory announcing the arrival of the Messiah.
But there were many suddenlies in the Old Testament as well.
When the Israelites had been stopped in their flight from Egypt by the Red Sea and Pharaoh and his chariots were approaching from the rear, when suddenly God parted the Red Sea and they passed through while Pharaoh’s army drowned.
Another good example in Joshua and the destruction of Jericho. For 7 days the Israelites had marched around the walls of Jericho, hearing the taunts of the inhabitants; itching to do something when suddenly on the 7th day they heard sounds like thunder and massive cracks appeared in the walls and as the chorus says the walls came tumbling down.
But to return to the New Testament the church was birthed in a ‘suddenly’. Jesus had told His disciples to wait in the upper room for the coming of the Holy Spirit but He had omitted to tell them how long they would have to wait. Jerusalem was a dangerous place to be for the followers are of Jesus. They were in a confined space and confused. Each day would have felt like a long time, it was a place of uncertainty.
Day 10 dawned when ‘suddenly there came a sound from leaves as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. The church was born on the Feast of Weekes – that we know as Pentecost and every Jew would recognise that what was previously concerned with the Giving of the Law on Mount Sinai. Now the Holy Spirit received on this same day would empower believers to obey the Law.
One of the most remarkable suddenlies occurred when Saul was travelling to Damascus with the sole purpose of persecuting the Christians, when suddenly ‘a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying ‘Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me’ That suddenly changed Saul from being the greatest opponent of Christians to being the greatest proponent of Christianity!
But not all suddenlies are positive. Matthew 8:24 records that the disciples were in a boat on lake Galilee when suddenly a storm blew up which threaten their safety and caused them to fear but then suddenly Jesus appears and calms the storm.
And today our lives are being intercepted by unprecedented happenings – wars, terrorism, social disintegration, lawlessness. The list is endless. But in amongst this we need to discern what God is doing.
His first coming came at a time when these was great darkness on the earth and in the people but as Isaiah reads – ‘they saw a great light, Jesus came the first time as prophesied and we are fast approaching the time of His second coming. So, we can expect more suddenlies and we need to prepare our hearts and minds.
Revelations 3:3 reminds us of the importance of being ready!
‘Be mindful, therefore, of the lessons you have received and heard. Continually lay them to heart and repent. If however, you fail to rouse yourself and keep awake I shall come upon you suddenly like a thief and you will certainly not know the hour at which I shall come to judge you’
I believe 2026 will be a year of suddenlies, nationally and internationally but also personal suddenlies, and we need to be prepared for God to breakthrough into our lives in unexpected ways; at unexpected times and in unexpected places. We have crossed the threshold into 2026, may God raise our expectations and increase our anticipation to discern all that He will do!
Sheila Hendley is the Director of Academy for Life, an urban bible school and a trustee of the World Prayer Centre.
