Great
Expectations, Charles Dickens’ best novel according to some, tells the
story of an orphan named Pip. Despite its popularity, many people have never read
this classic work of fiction. Yet we all know what it’s like to have great
expectations.
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| People buy boats anticipating a bright, fun future. No one expects them to sink. |
Students graduate from high school with lofty ideals and
grand visions for changing the world. A couple exchanges “I do’s” at a lavish
wedding ceremony, confident their chosen spouse will meet all of their needs
and life will consist of daily episodes of happily-ever-after. Interviews go
well and promising professionals get hired for their “perfect jobs,” certain
the future holds nothing but one success after another.
Sadly, reality doesn’t always align with expectations. Idealistic
students discover the real world isn’t so accommodating of their dreams, transforming
some of them into cynics. Post-honeymoon, husbands and wives learn their mates
have abundant flaws they either ignored or hadn’t noticed. “Perfect” jobs become
drudgery, turning hopeful mornings into grievous chores as workers awaken with dread facing the onset
of another workday.
Great expectations wilt in the face of not so great
realities.
Sometimes church life isn’t much different. Pastors fall,
exposing their feet of clay. Congregations divide over seemingly minor
differences. Friends in Sunday school or the small group fail to come alongside
when needed most. Admired “spiritual giants” prove to be a first-class hypocrites.
We commit our lives to Jesus Christ and instead of “showers
of blessing,” we confront a deluge of problems. A friend told me years ago,
“Before I turned my life over to Jesus, I could touch manure and it would turn
into gold. After committing my life to Him, I’d touch gold and it would turn
into manure.”
Or God doesn’t answer our prayers, at least as we anticipate
He should. Loved ones die despite earnest entreaties. We don’t get the job
offer we hoped to receive. A damaged relationship isn’t restored despite our
best efforts. The infertile couple never realizes their dream of having a
biological child. Is that the way for God to treat His children?
People and circumstances can and will let us down. At times
we will fail to meet the expectations of others – even if we don’t intend to do
so. And we discover God isn’t a cosmic short-order cook. He’s not there to do
our bidding, and many times He doesn’t do what we expect.
Does this mean we should shelve all of our expectations?
Should cynicism become our calling card, convinced things will never turn out
the way we think they should? That’s definitely one approach. Another is to be
realistic with our expectations. Aim high, but acknowledge life often has a way
of falling short of the intended target. Ironically, sometimes we’re surprised
to learn falling short was a better target anyway.
One thing we shouldn’t do is crumble in resignation to our
“fate.” We can find encouragement from the best source of all – God. After all,
He knows us better than we know ourselves. As John 2:25 says of Jesus Christ, “He did not need any testimony
about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.”
When we feel
misunderstood, underestimated or unappreciated for all we’re doing, again we
can find consolation in the way Jesus was treated by people around Him, despite
all His wondrous teachings and acts He had performed. “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so
that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:3).
And we can trust
that ultimately, no matter what life hands to us, God promises to meet – and
exceed – our greatest expectations. Even in prison, the apostle Paul could
confidently write, “according to my
earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but
that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body,
whether by life or by death” (Philippians 1:20).
Paul had not the slightest fear or doubt that his ministry would
prove to be in vain, despite great adversity and suffering. As he wrote to his
disciple, Timothy, “For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not
ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to
guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day” (2 Timothy 1:12).
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