Expectation
Definition: “A strong belief that something will happen or be the case.”
Synonyms: Assumption, chance, prediction
Expectancy
Definition: “Hoping that something, especially good, will happen.”
Synonym: Anticipation
Honestly, these words are pretty similar and have very similar meanings. Recently, God has been revealing to me how much these two words are affecting my faith. See, I always thought they pretty much meant the same thing, but when it came to my walk with the Lord, I was placing all of my faith in my expectations. No wonder I lived in a constant state of disappointment for so many years. Life is not supposed to be lived based on worldly expectations. As a Christian, I am supposed to be living in expectancy, not expectation. I’ll explain more.
So many of my expectations were based on what little background knowledge I had, what I thought the outcome of something would be, or how I assumed a person would turn out.
Side note: never put expectations on humans that carry a natural sinful nature. People will make mistakes. It’s only natural. Love them and forgive them, but never depend on them for a performance or meeting a satisfaction that only God provides.
For me, having expectations was a product of needing to have control. Here’s something I’m realizing: When you pray to what you can control or what you want to happen, you limit what God really wants to show you. Wonder is part of giving glory to God. He is amazing! He is wonderful! When we pray in a way that brings results that are suitable to what we can make sense of, our expectations got the glory, not God.
Expectancy is knowing that God is big and He’s doing bigger things than what we can wrap our minds around. When an outcome is BETTER than what we prayed for, we brag on God, give him wonder, and ultimately give him glory. I believe it is a good thing to be expectant as a Christian. We know that our God is real, true, and sovereign. Why would we not be waiting in awe to see what he’ll do? Expectancy, to me, coincides with hope. Hope is so important. Hebrews 6:13-20 talks about the certainty of God’s promises. Verse 19 says, “we have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” If you’re not anchored in the word of God, you’ll be let down, a lot. I find that when I’m praying my words instead of God’s, I’m usually disappointed with the outcome. Because I didn’t control it.
When praying, pray scripture. God’s Word is real and true. There’s power in His word. The Bible is God-breathed. It is alive and it works way better than words we come up with on our own. Praying scripture will also grow your confidence. Instead of praying to outcomes you can’t control, pray God’s words to a God who parts seas and shuts the mouths of lions. That’s the God you’re praying to. He’s the God who created every cell in your body and every star in the universe. He’s trustworthy and gracious. He’s strong and gentle. He hears you.
God kept promises to his people so many times in his word. Expectancy is having faith that God is a man of his Word. He’s a promise-keeper. He is all-knowing. He is the beginning and the end. Having faith in a promise-keeping God means having an understanding that heaven is home and eternity with God is our reward. As believers of Christ, we can expect that!
Hebrews 11 is often called the “faith hall of fame.” There’s an entire chapter describing some amazing men and women of faith in scripture. Each of these people have something in common: they didn’t receive their full reward, on earth. They didn’t base their faith on seeing fruits of their labor in a sin-filled world. No, these people understood what they were doing was for an eternal, heavenly reward.
God was faithful to Abraham.
He remembered Noah and his family.
He honored Rahab.
He blessed Sarah with a child.
He provided for Joseph.
He showed so much sovereignty through Moses.
He saved Daniel from a den of lions.
He sacrificed his only son, Jesus, on a cross and raised him back to life so that you and I can live with no debt of sin.
2 Peter 3 talks about the risk of questioning if God is going to keep his promises. People will doubt God and doubt if what he says will come to pass. verse 11 in the Message version says, “God is poised, ready to speak his word again..”
“God is poised” He’s not worried. Why should I be? If I’m living for Him and in Him there is life, when my plans don’t work out, I was probably headed for death. When I’m choosing not to trust God, I’m choosing not to live in the life He has for me. The enemy will use even what I thought was good and right to tempt me into discrediting what God has for me. The enemy wants me to think God isn’t good, so when things fail, I question Gods goodness. I’m not going to let him have that victory over me. He doesn’t deserve it.
I choose trust.
I choose to know God is good no matter what.
I choose life.
I choose to live in life.
I choose to be found faithful until the end.
Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (NIV)
Read Isaiah 40 when you forget how mighty God is.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you future and a hope.” (NLT)
Revelation 2:10 “Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.” (NLT)
