Let’s talk about “Expectations”. Since I’m not right there with you I’m going
to pretend you said, “Ok Meg, I’d love to!”
I heard once that “Expectations are
offenses waiting to happen”. I remember
thinking at the time how profound that was and so I logged it away. I have considered the saying often when I’ve
found myself putting my expectations on others; essentially making other people
responsible for something I have, more or less, made up in my head. Expectations often go un-verbalized as well. Ugh, I have no idea why we do this. We set people and ourselves up for a no-win
situation, don’t we?
Now that we’re all thinking back on the
last several awkward conflicts with friends and/or loved ones, let’s take it a
step further… What happens when we put our expectations
on God? We have the nerve to be
offended, upset, or even angry… right?
He didn’t perform as expected,
or give us what we wanted and prayed for. As if we knew better or something? Ouch.
It
makes me think of Job. Job chapter 38
and following to be exact…
“Then the LORD answered Job out of the
storm. He said: ‘Who is this that darkens
my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will
question you and you shall answer me.
Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand.’” Job 38:1-4
I think we forget, in the midst of enjoying
God as our friend and that He has our back and all that happy fluffy stuff,…. that
our GOD, the GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob… is Holier than we can possibly
comprehend, more powerful than we can imagine, and perfectly sovereign over all. Who are we to question, even for a second,
the plans or thoughts of Him who created us?
Who are we to think we have His omniscient plan figured out?
I’m saying this to myself mostly. I have recently put my expectations on God and
tried to make Him responsible for filling them.
I didn’t realize I was doing it… it kind of crept in. Regardless, He is the only One who has the
right to be offended in this situation.
I was convicted of it the second the question was finally answered…
“When do we travel?”
Yep, we have a travel date! YAY! And do you think I was happy when I very first
read the date? No, I am ashamed to say,
I wasn’t. Immediately I cried out of
disappointment and frustration. Our
court date is Dec. 4th. We will
travel by Nov. 25th ; 2 months and 2 days from today. …I
robbed myself of my own initial joy because I put my expectations on God’s
plan! This was His plan the whole time, I was the one who kept wanting
something sooner. Yet I have the nerve
to be upset when “sooner” didn’t happen.
I DO NOT know better than the Omniscient One! UGH! Learn
from my mistake please! Log this away
for yourself… consider it often as you find yourself beginning to do the same.
I’m good with the date now; now that the
Holy Spirit and I had a little one on One time.
Still a bit disappointed that it’s 2 months away, but the disappointment
is from wanting to hold our Little-Bit so much, not from disappointment in God.
BUT... This means everything can happen
now! WOO HOO!! We can book our flight & lodging, we can
start making and freezing meals for when we’re gone, we get to PACK!, clean
carpets, make doctors appts., etc. It’s
REALLY happening!
I can
finally let the breath out that I didn’t realize I’d been holding until now…
Praise
God for His faithfulness and mercy!
We’ll
see you SOON John-Patrik!
All
for Him,
Meg (and Rich)
Well said. We celebrate with you, sweet friends!
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