For my best friend’s birthday, I wanted to find a special gift that would be unique, and personalized. Fortunately, my daughter is quite artistically-gifted, and she kindly agreed to render a caricature portrait of my friend holding her cat, from a photo I took recently.

The portrait gift turned out wonderfully, and I showed a copy of it to another friend of mine, whom I work with. She was impressed at how cute it was, and asked to commission my daughter to render a caricature of her cat. My daughter was excited about her first “art job” and began drawing right away. Then some days passed, and I noticed the commissioned art had been started – but was now set aside, unfinished. I asked “why the delay?”

My daughter sighed, “I just kind of wish…I wasn’t getting paid to draw it,” she replied. Puzzled, I asked why she felt this way. “What if it’s not what she expects? What if she has this great expectation of how it turns out, and then ends up disappointed?” 

My daughter, who normally has such a zeal and enthusiasm for creating, had become discouraged at the idea that her art would fall short of what was expected. It had stopped her from continuing her work; afraid to disappoint. Expectations are unique in that they can serve to inspire us, and they can also discourage us. They can fuel us as we charge ahead, aiming for the stars, or prevent us from stepping outside of our comfort zone at all. 

When I was called to the Ministry, I did not know what to expect. As I focused internally on what may be expected of me by others, I remember the nagging doubt that I am just not “good” enough. But do you know what? God is! And He can work through all of us. He gently reminded me He is more than able to work through me as I share my testimony of how Jesus changes lives, as I share His word, and point people to God. One of my favorite scriptures, Ephesian 3:20, reminds me not to focus on my own expectations, and also not to focus on the expectations others may have of me, but rather to focus expectantly on the goodness of God, and the awesome magnificence of His power. I will stand firm on His promises, as He is faithful. 

The hard part for me is truly surrendering my expectations of what the outcome looks like. 

A bible story I shared in a recent sermon message was about the life of Joseph, who had a very important calling on his life. He was clearly his father’s favorite son, and even wore a special robe given to him by his father, which further fueled the jealousy his many brothers had against him. Joseph’s own brothers sold him into slavery, then led his adoring father to believe he had been killed by wild animals. Joseph faced many trials and hardships, but God was with him all the while; and much of what he put his hands to was blessed. Joseph’s journey was a hard one. He found himself rejected, thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, then he flourished in an important position in Potiphar’s household, wrongfully accused and imprisoned, promoted again to serve Pharaoh, and Joseph would ultimately be instrumental in saving thousands from starvation, including his own family, despite the suffering he endured because of their actions. 

If I were in Joseph’s shoes, I am quite certain I would have cried out to God, “This is not what I expected!” 

Things often work out differently than I expect them to, but God is faithful. I am encouraged by Joseph’s story, and inspired by the way Joseph remained steadfast in his reliance upon God, even during the hard times. I pray that you find encouragement to look hopefully and expectantly to the Lord. Ephesian 3:20 teaches us, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”