This week, Danny talks about our expectations and when our reality doesn’t line up with what we thought was going to happen. As a UT fan, he is definitely familiar with disappointment and failed expectations but this can happen a lot in sports, moreso to UT, but as fans we go to a game, or we watch a game hoping for, wanting, desiring, EXPECTING, a win. Sometimes we are left empty, and disappointed because of those failed expectations.
- “Have you ever had expectations for something that went nothing like you had hoped or expected? “
This unfortunately also happens to us in life, when we have expectations about certain things that don’t go our way, maybe you never hoped or expected that the last part of your senior year would be spent at home, that you’d miss out on sports, prom, or graduation. Maybe you never hoped or expected that your parents would get a divorce, that your best friend would pass away in a car accident. You had different expectations.
I bet Jesus’ disciples had different expectations than when and how He was led to the cross to die. I have heard that people were expecting the Messiah, the Savior to conquer the roman empire who had overtaken Israel to free them from the oppression of Rome. They even argue at one point over who was going to sit at the right and the left hand of Jesus when He takes the throne. ( Mark 10:35-45 ) When He had come for something so much bigger than what they expected. Jesus said in John 16:33,
‘ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”’
John 16:33
Jesus was trying to prepare them for what was going to happen, because He knew what was going to happen, what was required of Him to not just free Israel, but free the world. After His death, the disciples were afraid, because their expectations were totally destroyed. They ran and hid because they were scared that the roman empire was going to do the same to them because they associated with Jesus. Their collective world came crashing down when their expectations did not meet their reality.
In that darkest moment, God was still doing something: Christ had risen. When all hope was lost, God was still doing something. Matthew 28:2-7
John 20:19-23 – When Jesus appeared to them, they were overjoyed. This is what Jesus said He was going to do, but they did not expect it to go this way, they did not see Him being killed to complete the work He started. They did not know in the midst of all this that Jesus was working.
- Has there been a time when you can remember when something did not go the way you had hoped or expected?
- How did God work through that time?
- What good came from that, which wouldn’t have otherwise?
Just because things don’t work out the way you envisioned, doesn’t mean that God isn’t working. When you don’t feel it, when you don’t see it, He is working. We have that promise. Maybe that’s where you are reading this, maybe there are things going on now that aren’t going the way you expected; be encouraged because He has overcome the world, Have courage because He has overcome the world, have hope because He has made a way to have eternal life with Him, and now this is not our home.
‘weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. ‘
Psalms 30:5
This is the promise that we have. That sadness and despair only lasts a moment, but that our joy, peace, and life with Him will last forever. Just because things don’t go the way you expect doesn’t mean He doesn’t love you, just because you don’t see Him working, doesn’t mean He doesn’t love you, just because you don’t feel it doesn’t mean He doesn’t love you. Sometimes you will feel lonely, but scripture says that if you draw near to God, He will draw near to you ( James 4:8 ) and He is faithful to do that.
Just because things don’t work out the way you envisioned, doesn’t mean that God isn’t working.
If you are looking for this hope and peace, and don’t have a relationship with Jesus, or just want to explore more, please leave a comment, I’d love to connect with you or connect you with one of the pastors I am covering in my notes.
Love your work! Keep letting God work through you.