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What Did You Expect?

by Anne Marie Owens

“Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.” -Alexander Pope. Sounds like a fun guy to be friends with, right? Expect nothing, seriously? While I do think that’s stellar parenting advice;), I’m not sure it makes a good life mantra. Either Alex P was deeply depressed or deeply insightful. So let’s consider for a moment what exactly expectations are. Webster’s defines an expectation as a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future. Urban dictionary (which I’m not recommending;) defines an expectation as a guaranteed way for you to make sure that people will consistently disappoint you. Lol, what?! Whoever wrote that must have just gone through a break-up. Anywho, I digress.

I don’t think I have to convince anyone that expectations are a really big deal. Because we ALL experience the daily and profound effect of expectations on our lives. But I’m not sure we’re always aware of just how much they control our thoughts, moods, feelings, and actions! Don’t believe me? Consider for a minute: What makes you angry? What makes you thankful? Why do you get ticked off at the (texting) driver who hasn’t looked up to realize the light is green? Why don’t the parents of a newborn get upset when their child cries every 3 hours in the night, when the same behavior from their 8 year old would send them “into orbit”? Why do doctors, political leaders, lawyers, and employers of all kinds take so much time to set up expectations? Because they all know the power of expectations! They know that the ability to endure the grueling side-effects of a chemo treatment, to submit to new regulations, to win a case, and to maintain a positive work environment is all about the right expectations! It’s true. We live and die by our expectations.

That is why I love the letter of 1 Peter! Peter is all about having the right expectations for this life. Brothers and sisters, Peter has our backs! And you know what, I think it’s partly because there was a time when Peter had very wrong expectations himself! And he knows the regret and shame it brings if we don’t know what to expect. Peter knows it will hamstring our testimony, kill our joy, and crush our hopes unless we adopt the right expectations for this brief life on earth. You see, there was a time when Peter didn’t expect that the Messiah would have to suffer and he certainly didn’t expect that his followers would have to suffer either. Yet when Peter’s expectations were graciously adjusted by Jesus, Peter did a 180! And he began to live out of the deep confidence that while, yes, suffering was inevitable, God would take every trial, every tear, and every ounce of pain and turn it into the very servant of Peter’s eternal joy and glory! Nothing less than a robust theology of suffering before glory is why Peter could preach with the boldness of a man completely free from the fear of death and the fear of others! Peter was certain that, at the proper time, God would restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish him in Jesus Christ.

So I ask you, what are your expectations for this life? Do you expect fiery trials or do the photo-shopped images of social media tempt you to expect a life of comfort? And what about glory? What do you expect will give you glory? Is it the approval of man, the amount in your bank account, or how you measure up to those in your graduating class? Because God’s Word tells us to expect glory, big glory! In fact, God says that one day we will be exalted to a life so glorious that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, nor can the heart of man imagine what God has prepared for those who love him!

Brothers and sisters, this is a call to encourage each other daily, as it is still called today! Because I don’t know about you, but I need to press the re-set button on my unbelieving and forgetful heart every day! I need y’all to remind me that, while our suffering is both necessary and inescapable, we have an eternal inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading being kept in heaven for us! And He who promised is faithful.

So this Thanksgiving week I encourage you to identify your expectations. And to read the letter of 1 Peter over and over. Because it is only the Word of God that can protect us, change us, and give our hearts more reasons to be thankful than we ever dared to expect! In Christ, while weeping may last through the night, joy forever comes in the morning! Happy Thanksgiving to my family in Christ.

 

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