"Manage Your Expectations"
Often times, because of our faith in God (and what we’ve witnessed God do), we have great expectations of what God will do for us. And that’s okay. However, our expectations are not based on understanding what God has done. They’re not based on knowing how God has done what He’s done. And they’re not based on realizing why He has done what He’s done, and yet we believe…God’s going to “do it” for us.
When I say we believe God’s going to “do it”, I’m talking about our expectations, our thinking (or believing) that God’s going to do it - and it’ll just be done. For example, we want Him to deliver us out of that relationship, we have faith that He’s going to do it, and we expect Him to do it - and it’ll all be over. Well, that’s not what God does. That’s not how He does it. And that’s not why He does it.
While I was in prayer, interceding on your behalf, the Lord said, “Manage your expectations.”
The Lord said, “We have the wrong expectation of what, how, and why He does what He does.” And therefore, we have to manage or take control of our expectations; take control of how we believe God’s going to work it out. First of all, the Lord isn’t going to just take you out of that relationship. That’s not what He does. Second, He’s not going to just stop you from being in agony. That’s not how He does it. And third, He’s not going to just heal, deliver, and set you free. That’s not why He does what He does.
We have unrealistic expectations of God, and His promises. Now, don’t get me wrong. I do want to say that yes, there are times and situations where God does work in mysterious ways and do the impossible, but there are also times and situations where He doesn’t. And this is one of those times – this is one of those situations. The Lord said, “You have to do the work.” So if you want to be healed, delivered, and set free…do the work. (Or whatever it is that you want God to “do for you”…do the work.)
God is not going to just take you out of that relationship; you have to leave. You see, we’re expecting God to do something and He’s expecting us to do something. We’re expecting Him to do “this” but He’s doing “that”. And just because things aren’t turning out the way we expected them to turn out, doesn’t mean God isn’t working. It means our expectations of Him are unrealistic. He’s not going to get you out, but He will enable you or strengthen you to walk away. That’s what He does; that’s how He works. And when you trust and depend on Him, each step of the way, that’s why He does what He does.
The work is being done in you and through you – not for you.
If we don’t manage our expectations of God and His promises, they will surely lead to great disappointment. And more often than not, this is why we no longer trust God to do what He said He would do; we give up, and end up staying in that relationship (because we thought He was going to just “do it” and it would’ve been all over with). We have unrealistic expectations that we need to manage.
While we should be focused on Him, we’re focused on “it;” whatever “it” is.
If you believe God will do it, He will…but you have to be realistic, and do the work.
This is the will of God concerning you.
