Have you ever found yourself hoping for something with all your might, and God throws you a curve-ball? I sure have! And I’ll confess, sometimes it’s a tough pill to swallow.

Think about those days when Jesus walked the earth. Talk about high expectations! The people of Israel dreamed of a strong Messiah, a warrior who would overthrow the Roman Empire and restore Israel to its former glory, like in the days of King David. They imagined a throne, epic battles, a radical change!

But what did Jesus do? He arrived and… He died! And not just that, He died in the most humiliating and cruel way the Romans used for their enemies. He shattered every expectation people had of Him.

Even those who loved Him with all their hearts were in for a surprise. Remember Martha and Mary? Their brother Lazarus was sick, very sick! And they expected Jesus to arrive “on time” to heal him. But guess what? Even though He loved them deeply, Jesus decided to “arrive late.” The Bible says in John 11:5-6 (NLT): “Although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, he stayed where he was for two more days.” Two more days!

Do you see? Jesus wasn’t really concerned if people were disappointed with His plans. He didn’t come to fulfill our expectations, no matter how noble they might be. He came to fulfill His Father’s will. In fact, Jesus Himself made it clear in John 5:41 (NLT): “Your approval means nothing to me.” Wow!

So, friend, has it ever happened that Jesus has “broken your expectations”?

• Did you pray for the healing of a loved one, and it didn’t happen?
• Did you ask for the restoration of your marriage, and it didn’t work out?
• Is that illness still there, unhealed?
• Did your business fail despite your prayers and fasting?
• Did you believe God would give you that house you were praying for, and it didn’t turn out that way?
• Did you expect to be married by this point in your life, and it hasn’t happened?
• Did that ministry project you started with so much faith fall apart, and you feel like God betrayed you?

If any of these situations resonate with you, let me share something I’ve learned on my own journey: Jesus cares far more about the Father’s eternal purpose being fulfilled in us than simply fulfilling our momentary expectations.

Our expectations, though well-intentioned, are… well, imperfect! They’re like those blurry photos of a dream. But God’s purpose is perfect. It’s like a detailed, precise map for our life and the universe.

When Jesus doesn’t act as you expected, when you feel those “broken” expectations, don’t become bitter or dwell on the disappointment. Instead, turn your gaze back to Him. Trust that His perfect and eternal purpose will prevail.

Jesus said in John 13:7 (NLT): “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” And the prophet Isaiah reminds us in Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT): “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

Conclusion

Perhaps without realizing it, many of us have created a God in our own image, right? We’ve designed a wish list and how we want God to fulfill it. And then, it’s incredibly hard for us to accept that He’s not how we imagined Him. But friend, let me tell you something crucial: if we cling to that list, we’ll miss out on God’s true wonders!

My encouragement to you today is this: Release your own expectations of God. Allow Him to surprise you with the powerful revelation of who He truly is. By submitting to His wisdom, we will discover a glory far greater than anything our human minds could have ever imagined. Are you ready to trust Him?