Managing Our Expectations

One area that seems to trip us up frequently deals with managing our expectations. Or better said, managing our unmet expectations. Without realizing it we have expectations for everything. From less serious things like how long we have to wait in line, how many red lights we should hit or how hot the pizza is when it is delivered. To more serious concerns like how my spouse should treat me, how much money I should make and how come God doesn't seem to answer my prayers. In the latter case when we pray to God, we usually have an expectation regarding how and when our prayer should be answered. These expectations are certain to set us up for disappointment if we try to make the Almighty conform to our limited understanding of the situation. It doesn't work that way. He is the One who knows exactly what needs to happen and our job is to drop our conditions and follow Him in faith, trusting Him to deliver the answer. I came across an powerful verse that speaks to this idea about how God works in our life in the midst of our unmet expectations:

And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail (Isa. 58:11).

Did you read that line about how God will "satisfy your desire in scorched places?" Wait a minute! We're not supposed to be in a scorched place are we? If something is scorched, it's burned out and barren. That isn't part of the plan we had in mind!

Yet it's in the scorched and troubled places that God will guide you, give you strength, and deeply meet your need like water for a garden.

The midlife years are certain to present you with many unmet expectations. You may even describe one or two as being scorched.

The verse above contains a big promise from God related to all the scorched places in your life. His unique and wonderful plans for you will still go forward. He will continually guide you and strengthen you along the way.

I would be interested to get your opinion about what is said in Isaiah 58:11. How have you seen God be true to this promise in your life?

Or you may be fighting disappointment with God and are waiting for His answer. That's okay. I have been where you are. I'd like to hear about that as well.

God is showing up for us all the time, may we have the eyes to see all that He is doing!