Some of you are eternal optimists while others are quite pessimistic in your life decisions. I tend to be fairly optimistic, which I believe is learned behavior from early childhood.
Mom and Dad both set pretty high expectations for me and my younger brother. Dad stressed excellence on the baseball diamond while Mom encouraged me to do well in school.
My brother, Pat, is recognized as one of the early leaders in the field of artificial intelligence research.
The question I sense must be asked is this “So where are your expectations?”
Notice I’m asking where your expectations may fall, not what they might be. In my opinion, getting a handle on the where rather than the what can greatly assist in putting our life purpose in better perspective.
For the first 40 years of my life, I did not have a clue of just where my expectations were leading me.
Fortunately, Someone did and He gradually and patiently showed me where He wanted me to place my expectations.
The God of the Universe wanted me to place those expectations for my life in His hands.
It was 2001 when I first started praying my customized version of The Prayer of Jabez early each morning.
In essence, that was the first time I actually asked the Holy Spirit to show me His desires for my life.
Here’s how that short prayer has started since that eventful day:
“Lord, bless me beyond my expectations.” It continues, “Expand my borders, my area of influence, for Your glory.”
I suggest you go to 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 to truly appreciate the man Jabez and his close walk with God. He was much more than just another name in the lineage of the Tribe of Judah.
Jeremiah 29:11 is often quoted in Christian circles to encourage young people to have confidence in God’s purpose for His people.
That verse actually talks about God’s promise to return the Israelites after their 70-year exile in Babylon.
Yet, it does appropriately present God as the One who has a plan and a purpose for all His people.
Let me share that single verse: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’”
Here’s what I see in this verse: The Where comes from God Almighty. In His perfect time, once He has properly prepared us for certain tasks for His purpose and glory, we will see our purpose.
So here’s what I hope to convey in this short essay: The expectations of others and our own expectations certainly have value, but the expectations of Our Creator are what’s most significant.
After all, He has created us for His purpose and we would be wise to ask Him for guidance and direction going forward. I for one desire to be in His perfect will.
“… Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:10