When our Expectations Remain Unmet

When the perfect opportunity vanishes

When our Expectations Remain Unmet

I was so frustrated the other day.

I had been handed, what appeared to me to be, the perfect opportunity for God to step into my moment and blow my mind.

Alas, He didn't.

And once again, I found myself in a familiar place: disappointmentville.

I know the drill. I know that I'm supposed to keep my eyes on my own obedience and trust the outcome to the Lord. But I often lapse into keeping my eyes on the outcome and becoming frustrated in my obedience.

Again, I was having that dialogue with God. You know the one: "God, when are You going to move? This was our chance! I know the reason for my disappointment is my expectations. But aren't I supposed to be expectant?" That's when He gently reminded me: There's a difference between being expectant and having expectations.

Jesus taught His disciples to live expecting the unexpected. He was constantly turning their expectations on their heads and showing that, although they should live with the expectancy that God will move in whatever situation they are faced with, He will move in His own way and at His perfect time.

Have you ever been all set up emotionally for God to come through, for that breakthrough you can see in your mind's eye to materialize, only to have what looked like the perfect opportunity evaporate before your eyes? Me too. And this is what I felt the Lord told me about those times. #expectationVSReality #ChristianBlog

Peter was expectant, but he allowed his own filter of what he hoped for to infiltrate and cloud his expectations. Jesus urges the disciples in Luke 22:36 to keep a sword handy (whether He meant this literally or figuratively is a matter of debate) but within a few hours, Jesus rebukes Peter for coming to His defense and cutting off Malchus’ ear. Peter was mentally and emotionally prepared to pick up sword and spear and fight for the earthly kingdom he imagined Jesus wanted. But when those expectations didn’t pan out and he instead watched Jesus humble Himself to be arrested, “tried” and beaten by the leaders, he was disillusioned.

I submit that it was not only fear that caused Peter to deny Jesus, but also unmet expectations. He was prepared to confess a victorious, fighting, warrior Jesus, but he was not prepared to confess a humble, dying Jesus. This is not the story he had imagined.

Do we need to have expectancy? Absolutely! But we need to allow God to move as He wills, not just as we expect or imagine.

I need expectancy - the faith that God will move. What I need to remove is my own attempts to dictate or predict when and where He will move. Expectancy keeps me in faith. Expectations keep me in disappointmentville.

"And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.” Psalm 39:7 

To read “5 Ways to Choose Joy Now,” click HERE!