Exhortation Station

Recently I’ve been thinking about expectations. In one usage of the word, an expectation is simply a belief that something will happen in the future. Often, an expectation leads us to take an action of some kind. If I expect a sunny day next week, for example, I might plan a kayaking trip. If I expect to wake up sick, I may plan to stay home from work tomorrow. If I expect a severe thunderstorm to strike, I might move to a sheltered area. Expectations of this sort are useful and commonplace in everyday life.

There is a certain flavor of expectation, however, which is detrimental to our hearts. This is the expectation that relegates Yah’s abundant blessings to mere givens. This is the expectation that is unaccompanied by, “yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39). This is the expectation that too often forgets to give thanks. This is the expectation that loses sight of James 1:17 — that “every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above.” Not only do these expectations lead us away from a deep sense of gratitude toward our Father, but they often inject an extra dose of anxiety and disappointment into our lives.

When we have become well-accustomed to a certain set of enjoyments, we tend to subconsciously view them as the neutral ground on which to lay the foundations of our contentment. Too easily it seems, we become unappreciative of Yah’s blessings, ironically because they occur so frequently. Repeated blessings are cause for more thanksgiving, not less.

Without consciously realizing it, I tend to expect a multitude of provisions, delights, and conveniences every day. I expect to eat breakfast in the morning. I expect to drive my car to work. In the evening, I expect to arrive at home healthy and injury-free. Can you relate? We ought to remind ourselves of James’ admonition:

James 4:13-15 — “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ ¹⁴ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. ¹⁵ Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.'”

Though I have enjoyed a great deal of comfort in my lifetime, such comfort is not a given. Last spring I witnessed many homes that were in shambles after a tornado struck my college town. It is humbling when I realize it could have been my apartment that was hit. Last fall I totaled my truck and escaped serious injury only by a small margin. Praise Yahweh for His grace! Experiences like these remind us that nothing temporal is for certain.

Proverbs 27:1 — “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”

When Yeshua instructed His disciples how to pray, His prayer contained the petition, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). Yahweh wants us to ask for our daily bread. He doesn’t want us to merely expect it, consume it, and move on about our day. He desires His children to look to Him for the provision of all good things.

Here is something to ponder. You know that feeling when you’ve been sick for a few days and suddenly wake up feeling worlds better? Just feeling normal is such a delight when you’ve been feeling crumby. Now, what if you opened your eyes every morning expecting to be sick, only to be pleasantly surprised by how good you feel? What if you expected to wake up blind, only to be daily overjoyed that you can, in fact, see? I wonder how much more we would appreciate our current state of well-being if it was pulled out from under us for a day or even an hour. I’m not saying we should expect the worst of everything. The point is that we often become oblivious to a whole host of Yahweh’s mercies right in front of us because we’ve come to simply expect them.

Rather than building our lives around fragile expectations, let us seek out a different course. Envision walking beside your Father in Heaven with open hands, eager to gratefully receive any gifts He might place there, yet equally willing to release anything He knows is not best for you. Whatever plans or provisions you have, you hold lightly, with open hands rather than with a death grip. It’s very easy to fix more hope than we realize on an earthly treasure, whether it be a vehicle, a home, a relationship — you name it. It’s often not until Yahweh allows that thing to be taken away that we realize just how much hope we had placed in it. If we live with an “open hands” attitude, we will be better able to righteously steward the things Yahweh gives us to enjoy, cultivate, and multiply.

What are some practical ways in which we can foster this “open hands” attitude? A few big things come to mind.

First, be a giver. The great thing about giving is that it is always at your fingertips. Getting is where all the uncertainty comes in. We can’t know what we’ll get in life, but we can always choose to give within our means. It could be money, time, a kind word spoken at the right moment, a service done for an elderly person, and the list goes on. Second, ask Yahweh for the small things, not just the big ones. Ask Him to provide a meal on your table. Ask Him for safety on your way to work and for good health throughout the day. When we ask, we remind ourselves where our dependency ought to continually rest. Third, thank Yahweh. Ponder the simple yet awe-inspiring blessings you enjoy every single day. Giving, asking, and thanking help guard us from those expectations which can lead us into the snare of endless dissatisfaction and discontentment with life. Below are some great verses on the subject of giving.

Proverbs 21:25,26 — “The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, For his hands refuse to work; ²⁶ All day long he is craving, While the righteous gives and does not hold back.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-9 — “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷ Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; ⁹ as it is written, ‘He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, His righteousness endures forever.'”

Before wrapping up this discussion, I want to add that there is one type of expectation which Yah’s children can safely receive wholeheartedly and joyfully. These are the expectations based not on the uncertain intentions of man, but rather on the unfailing promises of Yahweh. There is a most blessed expectation of eternal life for those washed through faith in Yeshua Messiah (John 5:24). Yeshua assured us that if we seek Him, we will find Him (Matt 7:7,8). Hallelujah for the wonderful expectations that bring us joy and hope.

In conclusion, I wonder how much joy passes us by as a result of our lofty expectations built upon shaky ground. If there is more joy to be latched hold of — more contentment of spirit — more appreciation of the Father’s goodness — then I don’t want to miss out.

Shalom!

1 Timothy 6:17 — “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.”

(Bible passages NASB 1995)

Shout-Outs

• If you want to hear a thought-provoking sermon on the subject of expectations, check out Dr. S. M. Davis’ message titled, “Expectations, The Enemy of Relationships and Gratitude.” Here’s a link: https://www.sermonaudio.com/solo/fsbc/sermons/2232041535631/