Expectations

And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?" —Matthew 11:2–3 (NKJV)

Disappointment is something we've all experienced; things don't always go according to our plans. And so that's the first place to look when we feel disappointed-the Plan.

When we find that our plans aren't fulfilling our hopes, as disappointing as that is, consider that Life is not according to our plans anyway. There is only one answer.

John the Baptist was disappointed with Jesus. He witnessed so much unrighteousness in the world and it ached him. He wanted Jesus to use His power to end the hate, the evil, diseases, all the bad stuff in the world. While in prison, John started to doubt Jesus, so he sent two friends to ask Him, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?" I can be an impatient person. I can see myself getting frustrated and asking, "Are you the One we've been looking for, or should we hang our hopes on someone else?"

Jesus' answer tells us how we should deal with our disappointment with God:
"Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them." (Matthew 11:4–5 NKJV)

Jesus pointed John to the fact that He was fulfilling the prophecies that the Messiah would heal the blind, lame, and deaf and raise the dead (Isaiah 35:5–6; 61:1). Why did He answer John in this way? To make John base his judgment on the fulfillment of God's Word, not on his own expectations.

Do we start our statements with "I wanted this," "I wanted that," or do we say, "In this circumstance, Lord, how can I glorify You?" I know that I often do the former, even though I pray constantly for the latter.

Where there are no expectations, there are no disappointments. We can hope and we can ask, but the details, the how and why of God's plan we cannot fully understand; we are not God.

I believe that while its okay (and completely human) to have the feelings of disappointment, we have to remind ourselves of the reality that those feelings of being let down come from expectations that we have imposed on God.

God never said I could control other people and circumstances so that I'll always be happy. God never promised me I could raise all my babies and retire happily with my husband, children and grandchildren around. As painful as it is, I have no right to expect something that God has never promised in His Word. However, I can and do expect what He has promised in His Word.

"Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NLT)

1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:103 NIV)

According to Jesus, we should expect life on earth to be full of trials and sorrows. But He overcame this world and has promised us a place with Him eternally-a Gift of Life we have the choice to accept.