To expect is to "regard (someone) as likely to do or be something." Expectations can be placed on anyone or anything. When you place expectations on someone or something, you place your hope there also. There are a lot of things we expect people to do. We expect our parents to provide for us during adolescence. We expect people to be open and honest. We expect our doctors to keep our loved ones alive and healthy. We expect our spouse to love us in sickness and health. Expectations are all around us. But, what do we do when those expectations aren't met? I am positive, if you are human, then you have had some unmet expectations at some point in your life. Maybe you have even put unrealistic expectations on yourself and watched as you crash and burn time and time again.
Misplaced expectations can do a lot of damage to the person placing the expectation and the person whom the expectation has been placed on. Why? Well, it's simple. Both parties in the equation are human, and humans often miss the mark and shatter the expectation to smithereens. So, our hope must rest in someone incapable of failure or defeat. I will be the first to say that person can't be me. If you are honest with yourself, then you would probably agree. Truth is, God doesn't even expect us to hit the mark every time, so why on earth would we place that expectation on ourselves or anyone else?
Seriously, we can't even expect our burgers to come out looking like the picture perfect advertisement. Yet, every time I get a burger I expect it to come out looking just like the picture. Expectations are shattered.
I, personally, have a tendency to place unrealistic expectations on myself. When I do this, I am ultimately saying that I trust myself to produce successful results all on my own...which, is not going to happen. That is where trust comes in. We must let go and trust that God is a good father. He will produce beneficial outcomes if we turn our control loose and give it all to Him. He won't break our expectations if we actually give Him control. Don't forget, He works all things out for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).
"Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow." -- James 1:17, NLT
I can not produce perfection by myself. Only God, who is in fact perfect, can produce perfect outcomes. With that being said, if I want my expectations met, then I better put them in a God who never changes and who never fails. I must choose to no longer expect perfection from imperfect people, including myself. My hope, my anticipation and my expectation must rest in Christ alone. Where people will fail me, my God will come through. Where I will fail myself and others, my God will come through.
Where are your expectations today? I hope and pray they aren't in me and they aren't in you.
"My soul, wait you only upon God; for my expectation is from him." -- Psalm 62:5
