For Those Who Expect Nothing

Right after I graduated from high school I moved to Venice Florida with my grandparents. My grandfather’s health was beginning to fail.  But there were lots of great memories during that time.  And I still remember a plaque they had on their wall while I lived there with them.  It read, “For those who expect nothing, they shall not be disappointed.”

Okay, even 40+ years later I am still rolling that one around in my head.  Should I not expect anything?  Shouldn’t I have expectations of someone for something?  I expect my employer to pay me for the time I worked. Isn’t that a reasonable expectation?  What if I didn’t expect him to pay me. Then if he didn’t I wouldn’t be disappointed?  For those who expect nothing…Hmmm?

I know, right! And don’t others have expectations of us?  People are watching us. Our boss, our parents, our children, our neighbors, our co-workers. Oh yes, your co-workers certainly are watching. Even your friends, brothers, and sisters!  And guess what?  They all have expectations!

Voices of Others are Saying:

• so what’s taking them so long
• why don’t they understand
• that’s not how I would have done it

Our Own Voice is Even Louder:  

• I am not good enough
• Surely I don’t measure up
• I need to earn my keep

And the pressures build as others and we ourselves pile on the expectations.

Expectation:

• the act or state of expecting
• Anticipation in expectation of what would happen
• something expected, not up to expectations
• basis for expecting 
• Assurance, they have every expectation of success
• the state of being expected

Even when someone praises us (I am one of the worst at it) we drown out the words with that voice that has been drilled down into that piece of granite we call a brain – that somehow we still just aren’t good enough, fast enough, better, smarter, skinnier. And we have plenty of comparisons to prove it.  ☹

Then There Is God….

Romans 8:1  niv

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 

He has set us free from the expectations of this world, of others, and what has been ingrained into our brains. Read that whole chapter (Romans 8) if you have time.

Yes, we are weak and often fail to meet expectations, but what does God expect?  He expects us to believe in His Son who set us free.  To believe that He does NOT condemn us all those times we fall short.  For God so loved…

Challenge of the Week: 

What do you expect?  Be free!  So be it!

Want to know more? Shoot me an email at Scott@youreverydaylife.org.