Favor Fridays with Tony™: The Favor of Unexpected Helpers

Tyrone Tony Reed Jr.
Aug 22
6 min read

There’s something both humbling and awe-inspiring about the way God moves in our lives. We pray for breakthroughs, we hope for doors to open, and we believe for miracles. But often, the way those prayers are answered doesn’t look anything like what we imagined. Instead of the obvious route or the people we expect to help, God surprises us with unexpected helpers — men and women, sometimes even strangers, who carry blessings we never saw coming.

This is the beauty of living under the favor of God. It teaches us that His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8–9). When we’re walking in alignment with Him, we begin to see that His provision doesn’t always come from the familiar, but from the unexpected.

And that, my friends, is favor.

Celebrating Milestones in God’s Favor

Before I dive in, I want to pause and celebrate a milestone with you. 🎉 Today marks my 320th blog post since I began posting daily Sunday, October 6, 2024. What started as a simple step of obedience has now become a rhythm of writing that covers every day of the week with its own theme:

Soldiers of Light Sundays™ – faith, spiritual battles, and walking in God’s light.
Reap What You Sow Mondays™ – lessons on sowing, reaping, and living wisely.
Tony Tips Tuesdays™ – practical writing and storytelling guidance.
Reed’s Reads of Wisdom Wednesdays™ – insights rooted in scripture and spiritual reflection and inspired by my novel series S.O.L.A.D.™: Soldiers of Light Against Darkness™.
Tony’s Timeless Thursdays™ – deep dives into classic shows, films, heroes and pop culture.
Favor Fridays with Tony™ – exploring the many ways God’s favor shows up.
Tony’s Superhero Saturdays™ – celebrating comic book heroes and the lessons they teach us.

Every post is a testimony of consistency, grace, and favor. And today, as we reflect on The Favor of Unexpected Helpers, I can’t help but see this milestone as its own form of favor — God sending encouragement, support, and connections I never saw coming to keep me moving forward.

God’s Pattern: Help from the Unexpected

The Bible is full of examples of God using people outside of the expected circle to accomplish His will. These helpers were surprising, even shocking, but they were exactly what was needed in the moment.

The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:33–34): A Jewish man, beaten and left for dead, is ignored by religious leaders but rescued by a Samaritan — someone culturally despised and least likely to stop. Yet he became the lifeline.
Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8–16): During a drought, God didn’t send Elijah to a wealthy benefactor but to a poor widow preparing her last meal. Her obedience opened the door to supernatural provision.
Joseph in Prison (Genesis 40): Forgotten and betrayed, Joseph interprets the cupbearer’s dream. Later, that same cupbearer — an unexpected connection — positions him before Pharaoh, changing his destiny.
Cyrus, King of Persia (Isaiah 45:1–3): God calls a pagan king “His anointed,” using Cyrus to release the Israelites from captivity and fund the rebuilding of the temple. Talk about an unexpected helper!
Jesus and the Fishermen (Luke 5:1–11): The disciples weren’t scholars or priests but ordinary men, fishermen. Yet they became the foundation of the Church.

Each of these stories carries a profound truth: God doesn’t need what we expect. He needs what He has already aligned. And sometimes, the very person we overlook or dismiss is the one He has chosen to bless us.

Tony’s Favor Fact™: Proverbs 16:7 (NIV): “When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them.”

✨ Even those who once opposed you can become unexpected helpers in God’s plan.

Modern-Day Stories of Unexpected Helpers

We see it not just in scripture, but in everyday life.

A single parent praying for rent money suddenly receives a check in the mail from someone they barely know.
A job seeker gets a recommendation not from a friend but from an acquaintance they once helped casually.
A traveler stranded on the road is rescued not by family but by a stranger willing to go out of their way.
An entrepreneur sees their business launched forward not by their closest supporters, but by a client they never imagined would invest.

These are all unexpected helpers — God-ordained moments where blessing flows through vessels we would never have chosen.

Tony’s Favor Fact™: Hebrews 13:2 (NIV): “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”

✨ Sometimes your unexpected helper isn’t just a person — it’s an angel on assignment.

Why Does God Use Unexpected Helpers?

To Remind Us He Alone is the Source If help always came from the people we expected, we might start giving them the glory. God surprises us so we’ll know the provision came from Him.
To Stretch Our Faith Unexpected helpers challenge us to trust beyond our logic. We learn that His blessings can flow from unfamiliar places.
To Teach Humility Receiving from someone we’d never expect requires humility. It strips away pride and teaches us to embrace God’s way over our own.
To Break Barriers Sometimes God uses unexpected helpers to break cultural, racial, or social divides — showing us His Kingdom is bigger than our categories.

Tony’s Favor Fact™: Isaiah 41:10 (NIV): “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

✨ God Himself is the ultimate Helper — but He delights in working through unexpected hands.

How to Recognize Unexpected Helpers

Discernment in Prayer: Ask God for eyes to see His hand in surprising places.
Openness of Heart: Don’t dismiss people based on appearance, status, or your assumptions.
Gratitude in Small Things: Sometimes the smallest gesture carries the biggest breakthrough.
Obedience to Act: When God nudges someone to help, it may look small to them but life-changing for you.

The Favor of Being Someone’s Unexpected Helper

It works both ways. God doesn’t just send unexpected helpers — sometimes He calls us to be one.

That word of encouragement you give in the grocery store. That extra meal you prepare for a neighbor. That financial seed you sow in faith.That prayer you whisper for someone you barely know.

You may not realize it, but you could be the vessel God is using to answer someone else’s desperate prayer.

Tony’s Favor Fact™: Galatians 6:9–10 (NIV): “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people.”

✨ Your kindness today may be someone’s miracle tomorrow.

A Word of Encouragement

If you’ve been waiting for help and feel like it hasn’t come — don’t lose hope. God is faithful. And often, He sends help from directions we’re not even looking at.

Stay open. Stay prayerful. Stay humble. Your blessing may not come from the person you expected. It may not come from the place you predicted. But it will come — through unexpected helpers, divinely appointed by God.

Closing Prayer

Lord, thank You for the favor of unexpected helpers. Thank You that You work in ways I can’t always predict or control. Teach me to stay open to Your provision, even when it comes from surprising places. And use me, Lord, to be an unexpected helper in someone else’s story. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Final Word

The journey of favor is never predictable — but it is always purposeful. As you look back over your own life, I’m sure you can see moments where God sent unexpected helpers to guide you, support you, or bless you. And in the seasons ahead, He will do it again.

If this message encouraged you, I invite you to keep walking with me daily through my themed blog series — and to check out my S.O.L.A.D.™ novels, where faith, favor, and supernatural battles collide in powerful storytelling.

👉🏾 You can grab your copies here: www.tyronetonyreedjr.com/the-shop