Hope and Expectations
Underneath feelings of hope or hopelessness are expectations. Do you have certain expectations for your life?
I think we all do.
Maybe it’s expectations for your marriage, your family, your kids, your career, your health?
I think we all do.
There is nothing wrong with expectations in and of themselves. But where it can get sticky and turned around is when we put our hope in that of what we expect.
When we let our hope ride on our expectations.
The Lie Behind Feeling Hopeless
You see the enemy will try to get you to base your hope on whether your expectations are met or not. And get you to believe the lie that your hope will go up and down with that.
I want you to think of hope this year.
And we’re going to look at where true hope comes from.
Because when we put our hope in our expectations, we allow ourselves to ride this roller coaster.
If you are feeling like – yes, this particular season is going to be great! My time with my family – I cannot wait – your expectations are really high – we feel really HOPE-FULL
But on the reverse of that – if you are feeling like gosh, things are not going how I want them to. It’s not looking like it used to… And your expectations are feeling pretty low – we feel HOPE-LESS.
Because we make our hope be something it was never supposed to be.
Your hope, my hope – was never supposed to be this thing you have and then you don’t. Whether you are feeling hopeful or hopeless. Whether your expectations are met or not.
Hope In Christ
Your hope is secure.
Your hope is secure in Christ – whose birth we celebrate at Christmas.
Jesus, whose birth ushered in the redemption of you and I.
Jesus, who was born on Christmas and then chose the cross to forgive you.
Whose forgiveness has made you new.
Whose forgiveness has made you redeemed.
Whose forgiveness has made you righteous. Has made you worthy.
He has called you by name and you are His. And there is nothing that can change that.
Our hope – true hope – goes back to Christ. Who was born on Christmas, who chose the cross and died for you, who rose on Easter, and who will come back and make all things new at the promised resurrection.
If this holiday season brings with it joy as you are looking forward to time with your family and loved ones – you can be thankful for that. But don’t let your hope wax and wane whether your expectations are met or not.
Your hope is secure in Christ.
But if instead this Christmas season brings with it sadness and grief, a reminder of the loved one you have lost. Or if this holiday season is not looking like it used to. Or, if you are grieving the loss of a loved one – it’s okay to grieve.
But we do not grieve as those who have no hope as we’re told in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14.
You will see them again, and know them, at the promised resurrection. Your hope is not any less, if you are feeling that way. Your hope is secure in Christ too.
So as you go forward this year, may you know that your hope is secure. Your hope is not this thing like you have it..and then you don’t. Your hope is secure in the One who makes all things new.
It does not change. It does not come and go. And it’s not dependent on whether or not certain expectations that you have for yourself are met.
Your hope is secure in Christ and there is nothing that can change that.
So this season (and every season), be careful to not let your hope be set on Earthly things – all the yet to come – of the here and now – all of our expectations and plans.
Your hope is secure in Christ, who will come back – just like He says – at the promised resurrection – the true yet to come.
