Greatest Expectations
Expectations. We all have them placed on us and we place them on others. We put expectations on family, friends, a circumstance, events, a job, an education, a timeframe, and the list could go on. Daily in all aspects of life, we have expectations. Webster’s dictionary defines expectation as a belief that something will happen or is likely to happen; a feeling or belief about how successful, good, etc., someone or something will be. I love that feeling of anticipation that something good is going to happen.
Expectations. We all have them placed on us and we place them on others. We put expectations on family, friends, a circumstance, events, a job, an education, a timeframe, and the list could go on. Daily in all aspects of life, we have expectations.
Webster’s dictionary defines expectation as a belief that something will happen or is likely to happen; a feeling or belief about how successful, good, etc., someone or something will be. I love that feeling of anticipation that something good is going to happen.
What happens when reality doesn’t meet our expectations? Disappointment, frustration, negativity, hope deferred and more can settle in our hearts. Situations in life have caused me to face this reality. Experience can be very different from my expectation. In conversation recently with my dad, he said sometimes you just love people, serve people and don’t expect anything in return. This is can be much easier said than done.
I realize so much of my disappointment can come from people not meeting my expectations. I can look to others to fill that place in me that wants to feel loved, significant, accepted, appreciated and secure. Proverbs 27:6 says Faithful are the wounds of a friend. No human can completely fill that place in us that wants to be valued.
God is the One who not only meets our expectations but exceeds them. He is everything we can hope for. He wants to be the One that gives us our value and worth. This verse says it well:
Romans 5:1-2 By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with Him, make us fit for Him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that’s not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that He has already thrown open His door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.
3-5 There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit! MSG
God is constant, unchanging. His love for us doesn’t fluctuate on our good and bad days. He promises to never leave us, so whether we feel like He is close or far away, He is right there. I encourage you to forgive people that have hurt you and release people from extreme expectations. Put all of your hope in the Lord. Let Him hold you in His loving arms and be the One to give you great value and worth.
Early this year on a day I was feeling lonely, I sat by the ocean and wrote these thoughts from scripture. I hope these truths are buried deep in your hearts and that you would overflow with the love of God. He is our great expectation.
Your love is deeper than the ocean
Your love is more constant than the steady waves
Your promises more solid than the mountains, even when clouded over, they are there and remain
Your precious thoughts toward me more numerous than the sand
Your hand would guide and hold me even if I ran to the uttermost parts of the sea
Your goodness and mercy I will see, they follow me
Your love so great and strong that nothing could ever separate me from it
Your love knows no boundaries Jesus,
You are the Great Lover of our souls