“Wrong Expectations”

Tuesday, May 09, 2023

This blog is an excerpt from Sunday's sermon, "Seek What God Offers"

“A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16.9). This verse reminds us that although we have things we want, God knows what we need. Even the best made plans get altered along the way. Situations change, people change their minds, and we find ourselves somewhere other than where we intended to be.

This can be frustrating, especially for the believer. In fact, I have observed this is where many Christians wrestle with faith. It is easy to accept that God has done something of great value for us, but the outcome of circumstances can vary dramatically from what we are expecting. This can lead to doubting, depression, or despair. This can cause anxiety to stir up in our hearts and make us question the very foundations of our faith. But we must understand the problem is not God’s faithfulness, but our own expectations.

For faith to benefit our lives, we must alter our wants to align with what God offers. While God sometimes gives the desires of our hearts, we must not be confused into thinking that is his job. As we seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, we should experience a shift in our thinking that settles us in the reality of what God offers.

He offers security, not prosperity (1 Peter 1.3-7); peace, not resolution (Philippians 4.10-13; 1 Peter 5.6-10); fulfillment not temporary pleasure (2 Thessalonians 1.11). As Jesus would say, when we seek first the kingdom of God all the things we need will be added to us. But to realize this fulfillment we must not let our wants dictate how they are fulfilled.

As believers, our expectations are often rooted in the right things, but they fail to account for God’s eternal nature and forethought. For instance, we want wrong to be punished and bad people dealt with immediately. We know that God is both right and just, so we expect him to act now. But we neglect that God’s prevailing nature is mercy. We forget that he desires that none should perish but all to come to repentance. God’s slowness is not from ambivalence but hope for the guilty to repent (see 2 Peter 3.9). He will be right and just, but also patient and merciful until the time of judgment. As we mature, we must adjust our thinking to align with God’s nature and desires for others.

What are you expecting from God? Perhaps your walk of faith has not produced the life you thought it would, and that can create negative feelings. We must combat those with what God tells us about himself and what he offers us; because he knows what we need; and he knows what others need; and he will work all things together for good according to his purposes (Romans 8.28). As believers we must settle our hope in God who will one day make all things as they should be.

“…according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3.13)

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