Have you ever had a day where you were crushed when your expectations crashed? Where your idea for how something should go was obliterated? Where your stomach cried out through its piercing ache?
That was my yesterday. But it’s ok today because I know that winning the expectation battle is possible with God. Sure it takes courage to call on his strength to push through our unmet expectations and stop fixating on what we think “ought to happen.” But it is definitely possible. I know, because God lifted the cloud hovering over my world yesterday.
Stopping the expectation monster in its tracks takes trusting God for everything and allowing him to fill the holes with his perspective. Put simply, it takes prayer to win the battle. Ask him!
The notion of living each day EXPECTING God to speak and act is actually quite exhilarating.
Worrying destroys our potential in Christ. Worry makes it impossible to be content with what we have. It enlarges everything beyond reality and reduces life to managing each day’s circumstances.
As I struggled with my unmet expectations yesterday, I sought nourishment from the Lord. I set aside what I think should have happened. And I did not mourn the lack of clarity shrouding my struggle with expectations.
I celebrated the gift of waiting for God to paint a new picture on a fresh canvas. I remembered that I cannot be filled with hope if I’m wracked with worry.
Yes, yesterday crashed around me for a bit. But under similar circumstances earlier in my faith walk I would have collapsed. It did not happen yesterday because God reminded me to focus my expectations ON HIM.
I ask God to help me accept that the negative and painful things in my life have a purpose far beyond that which I will ever be able to reason or understand.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
What is your reaction when things don’t go as planned? Do you turn up the volume of God’s voice and listen intently to hear what he wants you to do? What are you expecting to happen today?
“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.” Philippians 1:20
