Expanded Expectations

Everyone has expectations. It’s a part of our make-up. We like to gauge the present and look forward to the future. Expectations give hope for what it could be and what can be; therefore, our imagination often wanders free, pondering these hopes and dreams.

This tendency to harbor expectations impacts our ideas of marriage, career, money, love, purpose, faith and more. In fact, expectations touch all genres of our lives, because we were created to have hope, faith and love. Hal Lindsey once said, Man can live about 40 days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air, but only for one second without hope. This statement is directly connected to our expectations.

Think about the power of our expectations and how they can give us a determination that won’t quit, a discipline that refuses distraction and a dream that will not die. We have been inspired by others like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Thomas Edison and Steve Jobs. These examples and more have changed the landscape of our culture and the way we live, yet as we walk through the swamp of life, it can be hard to remain inspired.

Have you been there?

We’ve all lived long enough to have experienced the backlash of expectations when they don’t deliver what we thought they would. This leaves us feeling empty and helpless, arriving at our destination not-yet-filled. This doesn’t mean we should quash this part of our lives, it just means we need to shift our expectations to the right person.

You see, as we age, we tend to be more cynical and skeptical of what can happen to us and for us. We limit our imagination to only the things we can logically figure out so that we are not hurt like we’ve been in the past. We tame our excitement, bracing ourselves for let-down. This causes us to live with a closed heart, not loving to the fullest. This is a trap.

So, what if we had Expanded Expectations?

In the face of our disappointment, we shouldn’t shut down but rather open up to God as our source and hope. We have to remember that He is able to do anything in our lives, and He is the one who fulfills our souls.

The Bible says in Luke 1:37,

“For nothing is impossible with God.”
Luke 1:37

This short, simple verse contains a powerful truth. It’s declaring that with Jesus we can have Expanded Expectations. We can enlarge our hope, trust, and dreams because He is able to do it. This slaps life in the face because He is greater than our hurt, our loss and our lack of peace. He knows what we feel and how our expectations have fallen flat due to various circumstance. He knows our struggle with others, ourselves, money, health, kids and more. He knows we are tempted to shut off the idea that tomorrow will be better than today – Yet He is still faithful.

In fact, if we are faithless, He still is faithful, because He cannot deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:13).

In what area of your life can you have Expanded Expectations? I encourage you to take this challenge. Dare to believe that our God is able to do anything, and He is greater than anything! He can heal your family, give you the right spouse, touch your child, give you a great career, heal your body, redeem your past, unite your family and do the impossible!

This is the Christ we serve. He desires us to have Expanded Expectations!

Decide to push back doubt, shake off unbelief and crush negativity. Life is too precious and short to let these things rob you of your full potential. No matter what hasn’t worked out or what has failed, God is greater! His ability is infinite and He loves you with an everlasting love!

Live with Expanded Expectations and begin to say daily, “The best is yet to come.”

Have a great week!