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The Word of God gives us hope that connects us to joy and peace. This hope is the expectation of a good and happy life ahead, leading us to God’s kingdom. Our expectation is to be in God NOT in our conditions or circumstances, people, or things. That expectation is a confident belief or strong hope that a particular event will happen. If we are without expectation, it’s like someone playing basketball without a hoop. Our diverse range of expectations should reflect in our relationship with God, including hope, trust, provision, guidance, and perseverance.
God who can break all our agendas, who can turn our expectations on their head, who demands more than we could possibly achieve, and who gives us more than we could possibly ask. Let me repeat that again: God who demands more than we could possibly achieve also gives us more than we could possibly ask. In that grace, the incredible, the unbelievable, the unattainable is the center of our faith.
Perhaps that’s precisely where God shatters our expectations most powerfully. God exposes our rules and daily practices, knows every trick in our book and then introduces a way of life so radically opposed to the values we hold as natural that they seem utterly unattainable, unattainable at least without the help of God. This is why we rely on God who shapes and guides our daily existence and participation in our daily culture like the air we draw into our bodies without the slightest thought.
Somehow, in many challenging situations we still manage to live meaningful lives. But what a difference it makes to know that through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God calls us all into intimate relationship with him who will never forsake us! This is the reality that with Jesus, our mission to love and serve others flows from this reality. This is a powerful message in a time when so many labels other than “beloved of God” seek to define us and realities other than divine love seek to claim us.
Someone may have thousands of “likes” on social media while at the same time feeling lonely or even unloved. By taking a proactive approach to our mental health and well-being, we can improve our chances of success and achieve our goals. When God exceeds our expectations, it’s not going to be a little exceeded, a little more than we think, a little blessing. God’s idea of abundance is more than we can ask or can imagine. This is why having a relationship with God is greater than all our expectations.
Does this mean that we can expect any great thing from God or attempt any great thing? The answer is both yes and no. Yes, because with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26), but no if the great thing we want to attempt conflicts with His will and Word. Make every effort to be united in the Spirit of God binding ourselves in relationship with Him. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as we have been called to one glorious hope for the future. In that same spirit, give God the glory in all that he provides for us now and forever more. AMEN.
REV. CAROLE
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