Expectation is the driving force that motivates us to rise up each day and pursue our goals, providing the strength to persevere through challenges and strive for a better tomorrow. It is the reason for endurance and hope in our lives.
Life without expectations sounds like food without flavour. We expect returns on our investments, salary increments, parents to understand us, siblings to support us, friends to always be there for us, and this list can be as long as one wants.
All the above expectations have no backup. Even the best stocks and funds are subject to market risks. Jobs are at stake with little or no security. And the scripture says that all men are but a breath. Can we truly trust in things or people, knowing they can change or disappoint?
Expectations should not solely rest on transient entities. As life teaches us, it becomes clear that both people and material things have their limits and are subject to change. This is not their fault but a reality of their created nature.
Joyce Meyer puts it like this, ” It is foolish to think that you can always continue to do what you do.” Life will change and so will you and the people around you.
1 Peter 1:24-25 For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”
It thus seems wise, to place your hope on something above and beyond them, namely – God. The Bible teaches that Jesus remains constant-unchanging yesterday, today, and forever.
Psalms 62:5 My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Additionally, it asserts that while heaven and earth may pass away, the word of God endures eternally. So have expectations, have them big, but with God. When you walk with God, He not only gives you the right desires but is also able to fulfill them.
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
The Bible gives us the right understanding of what God has in store for us. It may sound impossible and almost overwhelming to know how much God can do for us when we walk with Him and have a genuine relationship with God.
Let’s look at some examples from the Bible about people who expected big things from God.
Abraham – He believed that God is able to give him a son during his old age just as God had promised. He also had faith that if he sacrificed his son, God can bring his son back to life even from the ashes. And surely enough, God was faithful to His promise and blessed Abraham with Isaac.
David – he believed that God will use him to defeat Goliath who was a giant warrior even though he himself was just a shepherd boy because God was on David’s side. David went on to defeat the giant and later became the King of Israel.
Daniel – He believed that God is able to deliver him from the den of lions untouched by harm. He honoured God and His word above the King. God closed the mouth of the lions and Daniel remained unharmed even in the lion’s den.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – these young men did not bow down to the idol erected by the king and believed that God is able to deliver them from the fiery furnace. And God did deliver them and because of this incident, the king honoured them and praised God.
Hannah – Believed that God will bless her with a son even though she was barren for years and God blessed her with a son who later became a great prophet – Samuel.
All these show us that it is only in God and His word that we can have complete reliance and be sure that our expectations will not come crumbling down. So, remind yourself today to place your expectations not in created things but in the Creator Himself! Let your expectations always fly sky high.
Affirm Truth 