By Katy Mariotti
Expectations
You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.
“So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith– that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Ephesians 3:17-19 English Standard Version
We all have expectations. We expect our day to go a certain way because we schedule things and know what we have planned. We expect our lives to go a certain way because that is the general pattern, and sometimes because we’ve been told that’s how things will be. Our expectations can give us comfort, but they can also give us a lot of disappointment. When things don’t turn out the way we expect, sometimes it’s frustrating and sometimes it’s downright heartbreaking.
Thankfully, we have a God who is bigger than our expectations. In the Bible, He doesn’t promise that our lives will go a certain way. But He does promise to be with us through all of it. And He promises to love us with a love that “surpasses knowledge.” It’s bigger than we can even understand.
Looking back on my life thus far, most of my favorite, happiest moments were ones I didn’t expect at all. For example, just this past weekend I went for a walk with my family, and we happened upon a flock of wild turkeys. It was so fun seeing how big they were, hearing them gobble, and seeing their giant turkey footprints in the snow. This unexpected turkey surprise was a delight. My life is filled with wonderful things that I never would have even known to dream for- happening upon an outdoor orchestra rehearsal in Vienna, taking a walk in the snow in Switzerland on Christmas Day, having children that I love so much that I actually miss them while they’re at school, having a husband to whom I can talk and who understands all my feelings- just to name a few!
I pray today for us to let go of our expectations and stand in awe of and reliance on the fullness of God and His love for us!
Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado
