Expectation

Everyone has expectations.
 
Especially now as we navigate our way through the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping across our world and nation. You and I are still affected in numerous ways by this virus and at a significant junction in our life journey where we are pondering what might be next.
 
There are those who fear the worst is to come. Doom and gloomers are a dime a dozen. Others are cautiously optimistic about the future. Many, maybe most, are unsure where to put their expectation because much is still unknown.   
 
To expect means to hope, to anticipate, and to look forward to.
           
I believe God put an expector in each one of us.
 
Hoping and looking forward to certain things, especially good things, happening in our lives is very natural. Healthy expectation is critical to moving forward in life. A spirit of positive expectation fires up our souls. Hope and anticipation of good things and better days stimulates walking by faith and believing God for the best.
           
But when our hopes and expectations are not realized, we feel let down, disappointed and discouraged. A major cause of burnout, depression and suicide is based on unfulfilled expectations.
 
Often expectations are not fulfilled because our expector is expecting something from a source that is not always reliable. Many of us invest our hopes (expectations) in people. People are wonderful, but they can be very fickle! Investing our hopes, dreams, and expectations in people can be disheartening when their expectations don’t meet ours.
 
Psalm 62 is an excellent word of encouragement to us regarding expectations.  
 
The Psalmist clearly and confidently confesses that His expectation is from God. His hope was in the Lord. “My soul waits in silence for God only, for my expectation (hope) is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken.”     Psalm 62:5-6
 
David avoided the tempting trap of putting his hope in people or himself by pinning his hope on God. Therefore, David detoured disappointment by focusing his faith in God and His expectations for his life.
 
David says some significant things about expectation.
 
1. He waited on God to meet his expectations. Note that his soul was silent. Quiet. Meditative. Contemplative. And anticipatory. Why? Because “my hope is from Him.”  God put hope in David’s heart. The Lord was the source of David’s expectations.
 
·      David’s expectation was that God Himself would always meet his expectations.
 
2. God was David’s rock and salvation. Expectations built on a rock will not be moved. David’s life was stable and secure because God was His foundation. The Psalmist had enough spiritual sense to look with faith to His Savior for His hope and expectations.
 
·      Jesus Christ is the bedrock for Christian believers to build their hopes and expectations on.  
 
3. David’s life was not shaken. From time to time, our expectations and hopes will be tested. Shaking comes to reveal what cannot be shaken. Hope that is placed in God is hope that will stand. Misplaced hope will fall.
 
·      You and I will not be shaken when our expectation is founded upon the unshakable God of the Bible. 
 
4. God’s expectations were David’s expectations.  When we spend time with the Lord, and trust in Him, our expectation is from God. His hopes and dreams for us become our hopes and dreams. What He expects of us is what we expect of us. My expectations must be His expectations for my life.  What God hopes for me is what my hope should be.
 
·      Life is fulfilling and enjoyable when we expect what He expects.   
 
Recently I slipped away to a place I go to often to pray and wait on the Lord. As I was seeking the Lord regarding the challenging situation me, my family and others are facing at this time, the Holy Spirit spoke to my spirit “Steve, focus today and every day after on  the good, awesome things God is going to do coming out of this pandemic. “
 
Every day since, I have confidently, positively and joyfully confessed my expectation of God’s goodness now and in the future. This perspective has warmed my heart, motivating and encouraging me to expect God to turn this present evil into good on behalf of all those who love Him.   
 
I believe you and I get what we expect.
 
What are you expecting God to do in your life today? What is your expector expecting?
 
Set aside some quiet time to reflect on what you expect. What are you expecting to happen? Where is your hope based? Who are you expecting it to come from?
“Know that wisdom is thus for your soul; if you find it, then there will be a future, and your hope (expectation) will not be cut off.”                                         Proverbs 24:14
 
“Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”                                                                                                             Psalm 62:8
 
A Word For Your Week: Line up your life with God’s expectations for you.
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