Unmet Expectations

Two quotes* online popped up in front of my face within hours of each other, and I couldn’t stop contemplating either of them or their meaning. In context, both were referencing God. While both different statements, my thought process continued ruminating on them toward the same thought pattern:
 
 
 
The first one from a friend:
“Doesn’t it suck in life when you don’t get your way?
SOLUTION: Don’t have a way.”
 
The second from a Pastor I follow:
“Are you missing what God wants to give you
because of what you thought He was going to do?”
 
When 2020 first began, I clearly remember posting a photo online of a “bitmoji” character crafted to look like me smashing the number 2019. I was excited for 2020 to begin. I had expectations. I had ideas. This was going to be the year. Well, five months into a pandemic and this year has been full of things that none of us expected. Unmet expectations at its finest. I’ve even felt myself at times thinking “I want a do-over of 2020“. In the last few months, people have lost loved ones. People have been isolated from each other. Livelihoods have been lost due to stock market crashes and job losses for those who can’t work from home due to lock downs and being forced to stay home. Parents have been forced to make decisions to home school, or send their kids to in-person learning. Mental health is screaming. Suicide rates are going through the roof. This is NOT a year any of us expected.
 
Did I have expectations for this year? You bet I did! What did I expect this year? Did I have expectations for God to do something in my life? Yes. Did my expectations look anything like what God wanted to do in my life? Hmmm…Maybe not. My expectations (again, stressing “my”) were mostly about my personal life this year. Have I thought about and tried to “get my way” with God about these expectations? Have I been acting like a baby at times because “life isn’t fair”? Absolutely (and who told me that life was going to be fair, anyway)?
 
Another honest question I had to ask myself: Did I have expectations about my spiritual life this year? Hmmmm… I don’t remember that I did. How is it that I remember my personal life expectations, but not my spiritual life expectations?  Seems if I remember one, I should remember the other.  I’m a Christian, so why didn’t I have expectations about my spiritual life?? 
 
Since God is the Almighty (El-Shaddai), He can clearly tell me to suck it up, quit being a baby and not have a “way”, or an “expectation”. Shouldn’t I get everything I want and need from Him anyway? Doesn’t He fill the void that I need in my life? Yes, if I let Him. Why would I need to get my way when I know His way is better for me? I can kick and scream all I want, but if what I want for my life doesn’t line up with what He wants, I’m just kicking and screaming in vain. Does it matter if my feelings get hurt because He’s not considering my way? I’m getting HIS way regardless, because of the sovereign will in my life through Him. Although it can be uncomfortable and stretch me at times, I need to remember to be open to His will. My motives shouldn’t be about me, me, me. Being mature in our faith, we know that it’s not about us, it’s all about Him. So I ask one of the same statements above again, only changing the “you” statements to “I” statements, to make it more personal:
 
“Am I missing what God wants to give me because of what I thought He was going to do?” It takes on a much more personal meaning.
 
What does God want to give me? Well, for starters He created a list for me (don’t we love these? Yes, that was sarcasm). 1. Start blogging for church regularly again (I had used the pandemic as an excuse to not write as much). 2. Get back into a solid prayer life (it has been fading over time). 3. Give up some recent people in my life that I know weren’t good for me (I did). 4. Put my trust and faith solely in HIM to do what I need in my life (remove expectations; clean slate). 5. Quit acting like I “deserve” to get my own way (ouch).
 
Luke 22:42 NLT – “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from Me.  Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine.”
 
I know God wants to give me His best in everything, but He’s not a Genie and He’s not a puppet that I can expect to do something just because I want it to happen, or because I prayed and “thought” He was going to do it. He is a SOVEREIGN, OMNIPOTENT and OMNIPRESENT God. The dictionary defines “Sovereign” as possessing supreme or ultimate power, “Omnipotent” as having unlimited power and able to do anything, and “Omnipresent” as present everywhere at the same time. So, don’t underestimate God’s ability to create something amazing from your unmet expectations.
 
No further arguments.
*Quote Credit: Facebook; Matt Caulk, Steven Furtick
 
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~Dena

 
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About Dena:
“First and foremost, I’m a Daughter of the King and a long-time Christ follower. I’m also a dog mom who enjoys reading Christian books, cardio drumming, traveling often, and I’m a bit of a techie geek. My life has seen its fair share of curve-balls and I’ve found that I’ve become closer to Christ in each trial as He’s comforted me and shown me that I can solely put my faith and trust in Him. 2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT says “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” I feel thankful and blessed for the messes in my life – as they have brought me closer to Him.”
#NoMessNoMessage
 
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