Expectations.

Expectations. God has really been dealing with me a lot lately about expectations. I don't know about you, but I tend to set up expectations for my life, for the people in my life, and even for God. While expectations can be good, they can sometimes rob us of joy and even confidence. For example, we should expect God to work in our lives... however, these expectations can hinder our faith and joy when we expect God to work in the way and timing that WE want. Similarly, expectations can really hinder a relationship. Too many of us ladies see the romantic and perfected male portrayed in movies and expect our significant other to live up to that! Perhaps this is one reason why so many marriages fail (lets save this for another post;)). But it doesn't stop here... we set expectations up for everything in our lives and when those expectations are not met a deep discouragement sets in.

The Lord has really been dealing with me on this lately. Instead of EXPECTING God to do things on my time and in the ways I want them.... it would be better to just be GRATEFUL for His presence and just REST knowing that He knows how to handle things. Same thing goes in my relationships.... instead of EXPECTING people to act a certain way I should just be GREATFUL for the relationship I have with them. Now this doesn't mean that we shouldn't set goals, desire the best out of people or believe that God can do great things in our lives.... It just means that we approach God with a spirit of gratitude instead of a spirit of entitlement. Jesus has already done so much for us by providing salvation.... everything else should be seen as a bonus in itself. But somehow in the midst of expectation... we can forget that God has already done SO MUCH. We just want more, more, more. I am reminded of the woman who tells Jesus "even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." May our attitude be that humble and that grateful when we approach God. Lord... even if we just just touch the outskirts of your goodness...if you just look our way a little bit... if you show us an ounce of your kindness.. we would be greatful.

Do your current expectations carry a spirit of gratefulness?