Expectations
I was sitting in the midst of a women’s bible study, discussing the Old Testament, and one of the young women spoke up and said, “I wish God would act today the way He did with Israel.” Translation: I wish He would come in the form of a burning bush or part seas or bring water from a rock.
I could sense a longing in this woman’s voice, the desire to see God’s power on grand display.
I was just a visitor in this group and wasn’t familiar with these ladies, so I waited for the group leader to speak up, to speak some solid theology into these expectations. However, that didn’t happen. Slowly, all of the women started nodding their heads and murmuring in agreement.
I sat there, praying silently, wrestling with whether or not I should speak up. The short answer: I remained silent. I feared that I’d come across as judgmental in my attempt to speak truth into the conversation.
This interaction has weighed heavily on my heart. I should have spoken up. My fear of how I’d be perceived kept me from speaking truth into this conversation.
Maybe you’ve heard that old expression, “Expectations kill relationships.” It’s true. They do. Oftentimes, our expectations are too high, which leads to disappointment or frustration or discontentment. Maybe we’re expecting something from a relationship—be it a spouse, friend, sibling, boss, or family member—that they aren’t even capable of providing.
However, in the case of how we relate to our Creator, maybe our expectations are too low. When was the last time you assessed how you’re relating to your Father? What are your expectations of Him?
The actions or outcomes in our lives are often consistent with our expectations and beliefs. And the same goes for prayer.
If we have a Father of unlimited attributes, then shouldn’t we approach
the throne confidently in a manner consistent with this truth?
God wants us to approach the throne with expectation. He wants us to ask more of Him. He wants us not to settle for the safe or the mundane. He wants us to step into His abundance. That’s not us demanding too much. That’s just us stepping further into our identities in Him.
If we look for beauty, we will find it. If we look for grace, we will find it. If we look for love, we will find it. If we expect His power to be at work, we will experience it.
How would your prayer life look different if your expectations were consistent with who your Father is?
Be free,
Lani
