Hello friends! I just wanted to give you a quick update before I start my blog. I just arrived in Thailand last night and I’m so excited to be here! Just being here and spending time this morning with the Lord made me realize how dangerous expectations can be.
Let me give a little backstory to why I am so thankful, how being in Thailand relates to this post, and how the Lord continues to teach me about what expectations mean. Two weeks prior to coming to Launch I asked my leaders where we were going, what we were going to do, etc. They told me that they weren’t going to tell me until the time comes because they didn’t want me to expect something different and be disappointed. I was all on board with it even though it was uncomfortable to me. Anyways, I decided to let go of my expectations but little did I know that surrendering my expectations is so healthy for me.
Fast forward to this morning! After a long night sleep I was able to just relax, be with the Lord, and really take in a lot of things I couldn’t take in last night! And boy, did I learn a lot. Because of that I now have a new appreciation of surrendering my expectations. I came with no expectations of Thailand and because of that everything became a blessing. We have actual showers here, a bed of our own, people who clean for us from the goodness of their heart, air conditioning, people who have made us meals, etc. I was so beyond shocked and grateful at the same time. The reason why I share this with you is because in that moment of gratitude the Lord elaborated on what he has told me about expectations. Friends, when we surrender and rid our expectations we are able to enjoy every blessing (no matter big or small) with extreme gratitude. I’m so glad that I was able to just let go of my expectations so that I can be more appreciative and see the Lord blessing my team and I in the little everyday things too. Friends, I challenge you to surrender your expectations as well and rejoice with me at all the Lord is doing so far!
About two years ago the Lord told me something else about expectations. He told me that “Expectations ruin relationships”! At first, it didn’t make sense, but just recently the Lord has been revealing what that truly means. Expectations is when we have this belief that someone or something will do exactly what we want. Isn’t it? This is NOT what the Lord means when He says ‘expect’. This word was made to be a positive and encouraging word but we have flipped it to become a negative and demeaning word. Our world is ruled by expectations especially in American. We always expect so much from people, situations, God, and life in general. I’ve definitely felt convicted of this, but I want to share truth with you. Expectations aren’t communicated to one another therefore we get disappointed when things don’t go our way. Why? Is it because we don’t get what we want or desire? Or is it because we are putting an expectation on something that they or it cannot fulfill? Expectations are what keeps communities split, grudges held, feelings hurt, etc. Even though it’s so hard to do we shouldn’t have expectations at all. This is an area in every human’s life that needs to be surrendered at the cross. At the end of the day, people will disappoint you, life won’t go your way, and situations won’t turn out well. If we are really TRULY honest with ourselves isn’t expectations another form of pride? Think about it…when we have expectations of people or things we want it to go the way that WE envisioned it.
In the end, expectations really do ruin relationships! Expectations are the opposite of who God is and who we are meant to be. We were creating in love to BE LOVE. Expectations, on the other hand, is not love. Expectations are a form of selfishness and pride. That’s not how our God is nor who God has made us to be. Our God is a God of love…NOT a God of expectations. In fact, Jesus doesn’t have ANY expectations for us at all. Instead He sees right through our brokenness with compassion and love. He meets us where we are at and sees us for who we are not the sin and the brokenness we have gone through. We are the children of God and we are holy! Our Father sees us for who we truly are. He constantly meets us where we are at no matter how hurt or broken we are, He constantly puts His heart in our hands even when we destroy it, and He constantly pursues a relationship with us! Our Papa is pretty amazing! So then the question becomes why do we have so many expectations? Aren’t we free from expectations? YES YES YES! The Lord has been showing me how truly free we are from all expectations. Once I learn to be free of all expectations everyday something amazing happens….I start to see through Papa’s eyes! I am able to see people, God, and life the way that the Lord sees it. I’m able to be slow anger, quick with compassion, and live in love and joy! My beloved friends…this is who we are! We are HOLY, LOVED, BEAUTIFUL, and FREE!! I’m by no means perfect! Having expectations is something I struggle with and I’ll be the first to admit that BUT the Lord is showing me how to rid that in my life. Papa is creating me to be more like Him in His image. He is freeing me day by day from expectations. The more I spend time with Him the more I realize how free I am and who I truly am in Christ.
I hope to speak these truths to you to remind you of who you are and what the Lord has freed you from. So go in peace and joy that the Lord has no expectations for us and when we surrender those expectations we are able to see everything as a blessing.
