I believe I would be seriously overwhelmed if I began to examine the degree to which expectations have infiltrated every area of my life. Expectations of myself, expectations from others, expectations for others, expectations of society, my expectations of life--I am drowning in expectations! Do I have power over them or do they have power over me? How do expectations affect my perspective of life and my relationship with God?
As I have begun digging a little deeper into the identification and working of expectation in our lives, I am becoming increasingly aware of the toll it takes on our personal lives, relationships, and our walk of faith. Living life within the framework of expectation is akin to building one’s house on the sand, with the same abysmally low stability factor and high likelihood of disaster. Conversely, building one’s house on the rock approximates rooting one’s life in God-ward expectancy — a sure hope and unwavering confidence in the promises and faithfulness of the One who created us and knows all things. What is God’s expectancy toward His children? God passionately desires that we learn to live loved within the context of relationship—with Him, and through Him, with others. Our life’s purpose is that simple and that hard! Sometimes, when I seem to have little awareness of God’s presence and no feeling of being loved, I want to ask God if there isn’t an easier way to experience the satisfaction and joy of living--like some tasks to perform or a list of self-improvements to work on. Frequently, I am more focused on learning to thrive in a world of expectations than on seeking to strive for a genuine dependence on God, asking Him to replace an expectation-full life with one full of grace and truth.
Truth helps us re-establish perspective. Truth helps us exchange the heavy weight of expectations for the light weight of expectancy. Expectancy enlivens us; it is a much happier, healthier way to live. Expectations drive us to live under the law; expectancy draws us to live in the love of God. Expectations bind us to outcomes, expectancy binds us to hope. Expectations thrive on performance; expectancy thrives on relationship. Expectations foster dependency on man; expectancy fosters dependency on God.
The powerful current of expectation in which we live is swift and easy to be caught up by, hurtling us pell mell downstream; there is no stopping or steering. Yet, God and his tide of love are infinitely stronger and able to deliver us safely upstream, where the currents are much more gentle and peaceful. What does God require of us? God invites us to participate in life through trust—in Him, through faith, with hope and joy by the power of the Holy Spirit, in believing. In God, we can expect the best, because there is no worst for which to prepare--absolutely nothing can separate us from His love. Rm. 15:13, 8:39
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