Expectations

Expectations can be both rewarding and crippling. When we are able to rise to the occasion and live up to our expectations, we feel a since of accomplishment we experience success. However, on the flip side when we fail to live up to our expectations we struggle. We struggle with self-worth or we struggle with pulling ourselves up to make another go of it. My thoughts on expectations are this. One, do we expect enough of God? Do we truly know that God is as big as he claims to be? The measure of our expectations answers this question. If we go through life not knowing that God is bigger then our reality, and that God is not obligated to abide by our reality then we limit our expectations of him. Two, Do we truly expect and trust God to meet and satisfy all of our needs? You can look through the bible cover to cover and see how God has provided for many needs. But, for some reason our expectations tend to only go so far. We don't expect God to fully take care of us, we limit our expectations, with doubt and reality. Finally, do we feel that God is in some far off place looking down as if we are entertainment. I recently posed a question to numerous people and video taped their responses. The question was this, "what do you expect to get out of coming to church." One response I heard was, "you know, I've never thought about that." How can we expect God to move in and through us if we don't have any expectations? Psalm 5:3 says, "In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." David clearly had expected a response from God. He prayed and waited in expectation. We tend to pray a grocery list of wants and needs, neglecting who God is and what he has done for us, then go through the rest of our day without a second thought. So when it comes to God what do you expect? Do you expect to have an encounter with God that will leave you changed? Do you expect something extraordinary? What category do you fall into? Expectations can be good and bad. They can be both rewarding and crippling. If we limit our expectations of God we miss out on all that he has to offer and in turn cripple ourselves.