The Beauty of God’s Surprising Gifts

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God often delights in surprising us with His gifts, knowing our needs and desires even before we voice them. He invites us to trust Him, sometimes making us wait, so that His plans for us unfold at the perfect moment.

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For years, I had prayed earnestly, asking God to reveal the gifts and talents He had placed within me. My heart longed to serve and honor Him, yet I felt uncertain of what I had to offer. I pleaded, begged, and sought a sign, but His answer seemed delayed.

Then, in 2008, my life entered a season of struggle—a “desert journey,” as I now call it. In my desperation, I cried out to God with greater fervor, asking Him to reveal His will and the gift He had given me. Feeling bold, I even prayed, “Lord, I don’t want something ordinary, something everyone else has. I want what You have uniquely planned for me.”

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During this time, I discovered a deep and inexplicable passion for piano music. Whenever I heard a piano melody, I was moved to tears, my soul stirred in ways I didn’t understand. It was as though something dormant was awakening within me.

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One day, there was a knock at my door. A man I had met briefly at a client’s workplace stood there, offering a CD of his own piano compositions. He had stopped by to discuss his new glass supply business, but he left me with more than just a gesture of kindness; he left me with a divine nudge. As I held the CD, I felt God whisper to my heart, promising that one day, I would have my own piano.

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Not long after, while driving to a work event, I noticed a sign with the number “37.” This number had significant meaning to me—it was tied to a promise God had impressed upon me earlier that year. It also happened to be my age. The sign was for a guest house named Manna and a conference center called Eden. I later discovered that “Manna” means “unexpected gift,” and “Eden” means “delight.” These words resonated deeply, filling me with anticipation for what God was preparing to reveal.

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One morning, as I listened to piano music softly playing, tears once again filled my eyes. My husband noticed and asked why I was so moved. I shared my newfound love for piano music and the yearning it awakened within me. To my surprise, he suggested we look for a second-hand piano, setting a modest budget of R5,000.

Though grateful, I doubted we could find a piano within our budget. Yet God had other plans. A friend soon told me about a neighbor selling a beautiful piano for R15,000. Though far out of reach, I felt compelled to inquire. With faith that felt both bold and absurd, I asked if they would accept R5,000. Their reply astonished me—they offered it for R7,000.

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I hesitated, knowing our budget was fixed, but something in my spirit urged me to pursue it. After some prayer and humility, I asked my parents to lend me the additional R2,000. Before they could respond, my husband unexpectedly stepped in, agreeing to cover the full amount. It was a moment of pure provision—God had answered every need.

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In February 2009, the piano arrived. As I tentatively played its keys, my heart sank; the music felt clumsy and wrong. Doubts crept in, but God brought to mind dreams I had long ignored—visions of playing pianos in vast rooms, where music flowed effortlessly from my hands. I closed my eyes and said, “Holy Spirit, let my fingers move,” and suddenly, they moved instinctively, creating a melody I had never learned. The music was divine, a gift I could not explain.

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That year, God gave me seven pieces of music. In 2010, He gifted me seven more. Everything seemed to come in pairs, and as I sought understanding, He led me to the story of Joseph. Just as God affirmed His plans through two dreams for Pharaoh, He was establishing His work in my life.

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Proverbs 4:26 encourages us to “ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.”

 

God was preparing my path, laying a foundation for His purposes. Over time, I began to see the profound impact of this gift. The melodies were more than pleasant sounds; they carried healing and restoration. Like David’s harp soothing Saul’s tormented spirit, these songs became instruments of God’s gentle yet powerful work in the hearts of others.

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Through this journey, I have witnessed miracles—healing, deliverance, and the presence of God moving in unexpected ways. Though I have no formal training and once doubted my abilities, God chose to work through me, proving that His power is made perfect in our weakness (1 Corinthians 1:27).

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God has a purpose for everything, including sound. His melodies reach where words and actions cannot, stirring the soul and drawing people closer to Him. For those who quiet their minds and open their hearts, His music becomes a vessel of healing and grace.

 

I am humbled to carry this gift, knowing it is not mine but His—a reminder that God’s surprises are always worth the wait, and His gifts are treasures beyond measure.

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“I have set those in this earth, those who are My psalmists, and they shall establish a flow, a flow of My river among My people, a flow that will help My people come higher, a flow of My presence. Because their songs come from heaven and their songs are anointed, they shall indeed impact you and bring you into what I am doing. So when you hear the sound of heaven impacting your heart and when you hear the sound of heaven coming upon you embrace it and let it do its work. Let it bring peace to your soul, let it bring joy to your heart and let it bring healing to your body. Let the Spirit of the Lord flow in the sound that I am bringing forth as promised. For such a time as this embrace My sound, says the Lord Most Holy.”

~ Faith Tabernacle, The Trumpet by Bill Burns, 15 October 2012

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