We
base all of our relationships on expectations.
They might be acknowledged or hidden, spoken or silent, but we shape all
of our relationships around them.
Sometimes we make those expectations explicit: for instance, we exchange
wedding vows, or sign contracts, or shake hands in agreement.
base all of our relationships on expectations.
They might be acknowledged or hidden, spoken or silent, but we shape all
of our relationships around them.
Sometimes we make those expectations explicit: for instance, we exchange
wedding vows, or sign contracts, or shake hands in agreement.
Often
the expectations are implicit but no less real.
For instance, a man makes promises to a child when he becomes a father;
those promises bind him in love and responsibility to his child. A woman pledges care for a child when she
becomes a mother; those pledges tie her to her child through difficult days and
long nights. Whether or not they ever
speak aloud words of promise to their children, simply by bringing them into
the world, parents pledge to nurture their children. Children know, deep in their hearts, whether
or not parents keep those promises.
the expectations are implicit but no less real.
For instance, a man makes promises to a child when he becomes a father;
those promises bind him in love and responsibility to his child. A woman pledges care for a child when she
becomes a mother; those pledges tie her to her child through difficult days and
long nights. Whether or not they ever
speak aloud words of promise to their children, simply by bringing them into
the world, parents pledge to nurture their children. Children know, deep in their hearts, whether
or not parents keep those promises.
Friendships
carry implicit expectations. Friends
agree to make time for each other, to listen, and to care. Friends help shoulder the load. They show up for each other when everyone
else walks out. They support each other
in times of failure and celebrate in seasons of success. Friends weep and laugh together. Whether or not we ever spell-out the terms of
a friendship, we all know when a friend breaks a promise. The sadness we feel tells us. Conversely, when a friend keeps a promise, the
love we feel reassures us.
carry implicit expectations. Friends
agree to make time for each other, to listen, and to care. Friends help shoulder the load. They show up for each other when everyone
else walks out. They support each other
in times of failure and celebrate in seasons of success. Friends weep and laugh together. Whether or not we ever spell-out the terms of
a friendship, we all know when a friend breaks a promise. The sadness we feel tells us. Conversely, when a friend keeps a promise, the
love we feel reassures us.
Even
our relationship with God is, in part, a creation of our expectations—of our
perceptions about what God has promised. While we might be reluctant to admit
it, we all expect certain things from God, don’t we?
our relationship with God is, in part, a creation of our expectations—of our
perceptions about what God has promised. While we might be reluctant to admit
it, we all expect certain things from God, don’t we?
In
fact, a lot of the silent bitterness and apathetic numbness of some Christians
is the result of frustrated expectations.
They thought God had promised them something which they didn’t get, something
like protection from trouble or insurance against crisis.
fact, a lot of the silent bitterness and apathetic numbness of some Christians
is the result of frustrated expectations.
They thought God had promised them something which they didn’t get, something
like protection from trouble or insurance against crisis.
There
are many people who are upset with God, because they feel like God cheated them
out of something they had every right to expect. Quite often, the reason our expectations have
not been met is that they were based on illusions in the first place, rather
than on authentic promises of God.
are many people who are upset with God, because they feel like God cheated them
out of something they had every right to expect. Quite often, the reason our expectations have
not been met is that they were based on illusions in the first place, rather
than on authentic promises of God.
Nonetheless,
there are legitimate expectations we have of God, things God has promised to
us: strength for our struggles, guidance in our confusion, forgiveness for our
sins, compassion for our limitations, mercy for our brokenness, meaning for our
days, and hope for a future beyond the end of this tired life.
there are legitimate expectations we have of God, things God has promised to
us: strength for our struggles, guidance in our confusion, forgiveness for our
sins, compassion for our limitations, mercy for our brokenness, meaning for our
days, and hope for a future beyond the end of this tired life.
To be
honest, there are times when each of us wonders whether or not God will keep
even these promises, but experience teaches us that the God revealed in the
life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is a God whose light the darkness
cannot finally vanquish, whose love reaches us in the depths, and whose grace
ultimately transforms tragedy. Jesus is
God’s Word to us, and, in him, God is telling us what we can expect—the realities
upon which we may depend.
honest, there are times when each of us wonders whether or not God will keep
even these promises, but experience teaches us that the God revealed in the
life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is a God whose light the darkness
cannot finally vanquish, whose love reaches us in the depths, and whose grace
ultimately transforms tragedy. Jesus is
God’s Word to us, and, in him, God is telling us what we can expect—the realities
upon which we may depend.
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