As believers we sometimes find that the way we had hoped God would show up, doesn’t usually match how He actually does.
That doesn’t mean that were left disappointed, because His ways are better, His timing is perfect. He’s God after all, and He knows what we don’t, sees what we cant about every situation and circumstance.
But I think if we’re honest, we’ve all been disappointed at one point or another. Because at some point we've had expectations of how something was gonna look. You know, you’ve prayed and trusted that God would show up a certain way, at a certain point in the life of a friend, loved one or our own life.
Expectation that God was gonna rescue quicker, heal sooner, or change a situation in a way you were sure He would.
I was there just recently, I had prayed and contended for the life of a loved one for so long that I was sure that when God moved it was going to look a certain way. To my surprise that’s not what happened, what happened was much messier than I had pictured, but so much more beautiful. Not at all what I had expected, because my expectations can’t match the presence of Jesus in a situation.
Since we only prophesy in part, we can know He’s about to move and still not know what that’s gonna look like, His word makes that clear. “Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture!” 1 Corinthians 13:9 NLT
We can know God’s character and what He says about Himself and what He says about how He moves for those who wait for Him. “For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him.” Isaiah 64:4 NKJV
Still we get glimpses of Him coming, our hearts feel Him on the way and we jump to concluding we know how its all gonna play out…instead of just being expectant for His presence to invade in whatever way He chooses.
Don’t we all do that though? Is it just me who gets bossy and tells God how I think something should play out? I’m learning to partner with His plans instead of trying to get Him to partner with mine. His plans are good, plans to prosper and not harm, to give hope and a future…My best plans aren’t as good as his even on my best day!
You see, I had expectations of how the circumstance was gonna play out, how the healing was gonna come, how the rescue and restoration was gonna look that I forgot that that’s not my job. I heard the Lord say to my heart, “I just want you expectant that I am going to move in this matter, without expectations of how it’s going to look… Trust Me!”
I’m learning to be expectant for Him to show up, without expectations of what that’s going to look like. Opening my hand, taking His and trusting Him to do whatever He wants to do, what He needs to do, however He wants to move…I’d rather give Him room to be fully God in every situation and blow my mind with His goodness than reduce Him to my well intended but often lame expectations.
So let’s be expectant lovers of His ways and goodness in every situation…expectant that He’s coming, He’s moving, He’s got it all! Every heart, every circumstance, every situation…
When it doesn’t look like we thought, remember He’s good. He’s not holding out on you, He’s holding things specifically for you!
He is faithful
He is aware of everything that concerns you
His promises to move on your behalf when you wait on Him are sure.
Be expectant for Him…
Without expectations.
