Expectations

Let’s face it, people will let you down. But sometimes it is our unrealistic expectations of them that are the cause of the letdown. It really wasn’t what they did or didn’t do but our unmet expectation of them that caused our hurt. When I have irrational expectations of them or of their abilities I am setting myself up for disappointment. Disappointment in that they didn’t meet my expectation of them.  But many times we do the same thing with God. We ascribe to him our unmet, unrealistic and irrational expectations as though he is the Jeannie in the lamp and he is there to grant us our wishes!

As a Christian what do you expect from God?

When my expectation is the realization that I was created for the honor and glory of God then I should not have any unmet, unrealistic or irrational expectations of God.

When my expectation is that God wants me to trust Him no matter what then I should not have any unmet, unrealistic or irrational expectations of God.

It is when I want God to be subject unto me and my wants that problems arise.

Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

How much higher are the Heavens than the earth? The LMC (Large Magellanic Cloud) is 179,000 light years away from the Milky Way. So light traveling at 186,282.4 miles per second will take 179,000 years to reach it. And that is the closest galaxy! Is it any wonder God asks us to trust Him!

My responsibility is to trust Him!

Job 2:9-10 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Job realized that he only had to trust God!

You see trials bring about emotion.

Fear & Worry – Disciples in the ship (Matthew 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.)

Doubt – Peter walking on water (Matthew 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?)

Questions – Man born blind (John 9:1-3 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.)

Unbelief – father with demon-possessed child (Mark 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.)

Self-Sufficiency – Abraham child (Genesis 16:2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.)

Self-Sufficiency – Peter cutting off ear in the garden (Matthew 26:52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.)

Fix without God – Woman with issue of blood (Mark 5:25-27 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.)

Denial & Anger – Peter (Matthew 26:69-74 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.)

Disbelief – Job’s wife (Job 2:9-10 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.)

The reason for all this disbelief, anger and fear is because of their unmet, unrealistic or irrational expectations of God.

But compare that to Christ. Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. The greatest trial a person could ever go through was what Christ endured for you and me to be the sacrifice in our place.

Christ had an expectation to go through the trial, to embrace the trial, to rejoice and look to the results that the trial would bring, not His present suffering. Because of this attitude, philosophy or thought process, He thrived through His trials and as a result, we can too!

So I ask you again…What is your expectation of God?