General Stuff

Realistic expectations

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When it comes to expectations, it seems that people are all over the map on how to set them. Some have unrealistically high expectations that no one could ever meet, and then there are the ones who seem to offer sage advice to the contrary:

“If you expect nothing, you’ll never be disappointed.”

It sounds so good, doesn’t it, except who wants to live a life expecting nothing? Not me!

The wisdom of the Bible speaks to this conundrum better than the wisdom of man.

The hope of the righteous is gladness, But the expectation of the wicked perishes. (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭10:28‬ ‭NASB, emphasis mine)

There is so much in the original Hebrew language into which we can anchor our souls. The word for “hope” is “expectation” and the word for “gladness” literally means “exceeding joy.”

So, the realistic expectation of the righteous (that’s us if we’re followers of Jesus — check out 2 Corinthians 5:21, y’all!) is exceeding joy.

You can lock that one in, take it to the bank, and count on it. It may not seem like there’s exceeding joy — or even a little joy — at the moment, but if you’re walking with and trusting in Jesus, you won’t be disappointed forever. Exceeding joy is coming, so get your hopes up and keep expecting. It’s one of the most realistic expectations we can have as believers.

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November 9, 2021by Paul Jenkins
Written by Paul Jenkins
Paul Jenkins is lead pastor of The Gathering, a community church located in beautiful downtown Albemarle, North Carolina. He's the author of God is My Air Traffic Controller and My Name's Not Lou. Paul is passionate about his wife, his 3 children, running, reading, coaching, leading people who are following Jesus, Swedish Fish and the Carolina Panthers.