Disappointment: Expectations Unmet

Is your life right now exactly what you thought it would be a few years ago? 

Not many can answer ‘yes’ to that question. We often have expectations that we either put on ourselves or society puts on us. When they are not met, we tend to be disappointed, discouraged or depressed.

Maybe you thought you would be married by now? Or you are already married, and you thought you would have a child by now?
Maybe you have been job seeking for a good while and you thought you would have gotten a job by now? Or you already have a job, and thought you should have received that promotion? Or have a car of your own? The list goes on…

Have you been there? I certainly have. You are not alone.

Yet we can find encouragement in this scripture:

Psalm 139:16
‘Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.’ (emphasis added)

All our days have been fashioned for us by God. He is not surprised with where you are at, though you may be. Even this very day, today, was written in His book before you were even born. You may have your plans to progress and move on to new adventures and seasons, yet God may still have you in a place you don’t want to be for a reason.

Do you remember the children of Israel?

They embarked on a journey from Egypt to the promised land. This journey should have been short, but God led them the long way round; a route which actually took 40 years in the wilderness! But why, you may ask? God gives the answer:

Deuteronomy 8:2a-3, v5
‘And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you… So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD…
You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the LORD your God chastens you.’ (emphasis added)

So back to our present day…

Maybe God wants to work in you in this very season you are in; to humble you, to make you patient, to show you that He is your provider and not a higher paying job… The list goes on.
As a loving Father disciplines His children, He disciplines us (see Hebrews 12:5-11). God is more concerned with you being holy than you being comfortable. Though it’s tough, we need to surrender all our expectations and plans to Him. He is the Potter, and we are the clay. He is the Shepherd, and we are the sheep. His ways are not our ways, but His ways are best. Always for our good, and always for His glory.

Psalm 62:5
‘My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.’

When your expectation is in God and for His word/promises to be fulfilled, though it might not be in the time frame you expect, you won’t be disappointed, discouraged or depressed.

Why?

Because His word never fails.