My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
Psalm 62:5
“When I think something nice is going to happen I seem to fly right up on the wings of anticipation; and then the first thing I realize I drop down to earth with a thud. But really, Marilla, the flying part is glorious as long as it lasts…it’s like soaring through a sunset. I think it almost pays for the thud.”
L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea
Have you ever had great expectations about something, like a date, a trip, or a special day? Were all your expectations met? I’m guessing the majority of the time the answer will be no.
One year I had great expectations for my coming birthday weekend. My sister and I had plans to have a spa day, eat a nice dinner, and maybe a movie. I was excited and looking forward to it, but it had barely started when we got a phone call and had to cut it short. My brother had been taken to the hospital, so the rest of the weekend centered on hospital visits. I was stressed about the situation, but I was also disappointed. My birthday had not gone as planned at all.
Having great expectations is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s okay to anticipate an enjoyable moment. Yet, how do we temper our expectations so that it doesn’t affect our joy in the moment when things don’t go as planned? Maybe the question is who is at the root of our expectations?
Expectations of Others
Sometimes we have unrealistic expectations of others. We expect others to react in the same way that we do. I am an introvert, so I am not as prone to outward displays of excitement as my extroverted friends. For example, if someone gave a thoughtful gift my reaction would be very different from my friend’s reaction. While I may smile and say thank you, my friend might jump up and down and squeal. If the point of giving the gift was to get a certain reaction, then the giver might be disappointed. The point being that if you know someone is a practical and even-tempered introvert, don’t expect them to act differently. Just accept them as they are as you would hope others would do for you.
Expectations of Ourselves
Sometimes we have unrealistic expectations of ourselves. We expect that we can do more than is humanly possible in a day. I am the world’s worst of making a to do list of epic proportions and then being disappointed at myself when half of it goes undone. Through working with another writer, I learned to make achievable goals and create schedules that include all the responsibilities I often don’t factor in when making lists. By making them achievable, I can check off the list and feel productive at the end of the day.
Expectations of God
Sometimes I expect too little from God. Odd as that may sound, I expect more from myself and others than I do from the maker of the universe. I often go to God like Oliver Twist asking for a little more when God wants me to have an abundant life. Now an abundant life may not mean He will make me a millionaire, but it will mean I will have more than enough, especially in my spiritual life.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Ephesians 3:20
God wants greater things for us than we have ever imagined for ourselves, but His expectations come from an eternal perspective. Only He knows what will be the best for us, so sometimes we have to let go of our expectations and trust Him to give us an abundant life that will be more satisfying and lasting than anything this world has to offer.
So, when you go to God in prayer, don’t ask for a little more, Sir. Hold out your hands and ask God to give you whatever He thinks best. Then, watch Him move in ways you never expected.
We can expect great things when our expectation comes from God alone.
Lots to consider here Ms. Linda. Isn’t it interesting that some of us hold ourselves and our families to higher expectations and standards than we hold for others? I find myself harder on me than on a stranger. Why is that? Perhaps it’s because I know what I’m capable of. Enjoyed ma’am.
Thanks J. D.
As a fellow introvert, I kept nodding my head as I read, “Yep, that’s me.” I tend to have very high expectations for myself and for others. Often, I’m disappointed both ways. Your message points us in the right direction–to God. Thank you for this inspiring and helpful encouragement to keep God first.