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Setting expectations in the right place


Jerimiah 29:11 

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” 

Throughout this year, I’ve set expectations. I’ve set expectations for things and people, and they didn’t happen. From this, I had two options: I could hold resentment to the world for things not going my way, or I could self-examine why I placed those expectations in the first place. Looking back, I wish I chose the latter, but for a long time I was angry. I was angry with people and with God. I questioned why God wouldn’t give me that blessing or answer that prayer, and instead of God telling me why, he stayed silent. I had no response. In that silence, I was left with me and my own thoughts, and through that, I had gotten my answer. My anger towards the world was really a reflection of anger towards myself.  

At times we underestimate how prideful setting our expectations in the wrong place can be. The idea of pride is simple: the ability to think that we can do things with the absence of God. This idea of “I can do it myself,” can lead to our own regret, our own disappointment and for me, my own anger.  

Relating to this verse, we see that God has orchestrated a plan for us. He has mapped out our lives chapter by chapter, and it’s our job to let him flick through the pages. When we dismiss God and set our own expectations, the same way I did, we aren’t letting our story progress. We can have peace in God’s plan for our lives, because in nature he is good and perfect, and so everything he does is good and perfect, including his plan for you.  

I think at times we have on ‘Worldly glasses’. What I mean is that through these glasses we can only see what’s in front of us, our current state. Our lens are made from pride and arrogance which allows us not to trust God. We see our circumstance and believe that we will stay there, but when we put in ‘Godly glasses’ things are different. These lenses are made of faith and patience and though we may not know where we’re going, we have faith.   

There is a thin line between hoping for things and placing it as an idol, and if we are all being honest, maybe we’ve stepped across that line far too many times. If things don’t go your way, try and find solace in the fact that it wasn’t God’s will. During these times it’s normal for us to question God, we may not understand why God allows some things to happen and other things not to happen. The only thing I can say to you is that, if we could fully understand the complexities of God and the way he works, he wouldn’t be God to us.  

This is also me not saying that we should limit our expectations, or not have them at all. It’s in our nature to hope for things, but let’s place our hope through God rather than without him. I had a friend once say, “Where our expectations end is where God will begin.” And so, It’s one thing to expect that your flu will go away, but it’s another thing to expect that God is the provision of healing, both internally and externally. It’s one thing to expect a child, but’s another thing to expect that God is the God of Abraham and will make generations through you. It’s one thing to expect a relationship, but it’s another thing to expect that the source of Love will pour his love into you. Trust in someone who has a good track record, who won’t leave you regretful, disappointed, or angry.  

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