Today's post is written by Linda Green. She is the Director of Women’s Ministries at The Orchard Evangelical Free Church. She has been married to her husband, Ray, for over three decades, and has three adult children and several grandchildren. She enjoys writing articles that help women live out the gospel according to their God-given design and purpose.
Years ago, my husband announced he was planning a surprise lunch for my birthday. With great anticipation, I imagined a romantic afternoon at a lovely restaurant with a view, or in the heart of the city. Nothing could have prepared me for how I felt when we pulled into the parking lot of Cracker Barrel!
Think of how often we are let down by unmet expectations . . . Doesn’t every new wife expect her husband to understand her without her having to tell him what’s bothering her? And don’t those same husbands expect their wives to be as sexually eager after the honeymoon? As life begins to dismantle our unrealistic dreams, where we have placed our hope will begin to be exposed.
Faulty expectations hardly fail us only in marriage. Singles expect to be married by a certain age, or to find happiness in a career. We expect our friends to be patient with us, help us in our need, and forgive us when we fail them. We have expectations of our children (young and adult), other drivers, our government, and our church.
Only the Gospel can save us from being consumed with having our needs met by people or things of this world. Only the Gospel reminds us that we have all been given mercy and grace we do not deserve. Indeed, it is only when Jesus Christ is the all-satisfying enjoyment of our soul that our relationships with others can be truly healthy and satisfying. “For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things” (Ps. 107:9).
Perhaps you are wondering how my birthday lunch ended up. Sitting in the parking lot of Cracker Barrel, it didn’t take long for my husband to see my obvious disappointment. I don’t even remember where we ended up eating that day, but I do remember listening humbly as I learned what my surprise was going to be. It turns out he had planned lunch at this gravy-laden, high-carb family restaurant only so that afterward he could buy me two front porch rockers I had hinted I would like for our own porch. And although I eventually did get those rockers, they are still a humbling reminder of the lesson I learned that day.
When we put our hopes in this world, we always miss the MUCH MORE our gracious God wants to give us! Oh, if only we had lower expectations of others and higher expectations of God.
“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us . . . to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever” (Eph. 3:20-21).
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Comments
Thank you fir blessing my day.
on Friday, July 22, 2011 at 10:03 am
In Jesus' love,
on Friday, July 22, 2011 at 10:14 am
on Friday, July 22, 2011 at 10:23 am
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Faith's Checkbook by C.H. Spurgeon
Friday July 22, 2011
http://bible.christiansunite.com/devotionals.shtml
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An Eternal Pledge
And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving kindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness; and thou shalt know the Lord. (Hosea 2:19-20)
Betrothment unto the Lord! What an honor and a joy! My soul, is Jesus indeed thine by His own condescending betrothal? Then, mark it is forever. He will never break His engagement, much less sue out a divorce against a soul joined to Himself in marriage bonds.
Three times the Lord says, "I will betroth thee." What words He heaps together to set forth the betrothal! Righteousness comes in to make the covenant legal; none can forbid these lawful bans. Judgment sanctions the alliance with its decree: none can see folly or error in the match. Lovingkindness warrants that this is a love union, for without love betrothal is bondage and not blessedness. Meanwhile, mercy smiles and even sings; yea, she multiplies herself into "mercies" because of the abounding grace of this holy union.
Faithfulness is the registrar and records the marriage, and the Holy Spirit says "Amen" to it as He promises to teach the betrothal heart all the sacred knowledge needful for its high destiny, What a promise!
(Charles Spurgeon)
on Friday, July 22, 2011 at 10:27 am
on Friday, July 22, 2011 at 10:35 am
The Lord uses posts like these to remind me to rest in Him...at all times. He has used it to change my heart, perspective and expectations.
Thank you for your post!!
on Friday, July 22, 2011 at 10:56 am
on Friday, July 22, 2011 at 1:25 pm
on Friday, July 22, 2011 at 2:29 pm
on Friday, July 22, 2011 at 4:32 pm
on Friday, July 22, 2011 at 5:16 pm
on Friday, July 22, 2011 at 9:01 pm
We don't drive fancy cars, or live in a desirable neighborhood, or even have loving family members (both from broken homes) but we have found (over time) that when we ask and place God in between us, life is just plain better. Problems don't go away, but with God, problems don't become issues.
Thank you for the reminder. It is too easy to get caught up in the daily grind of life. I am very guilty of that.
on Saturday, July 23, 2011 at 8:20 am
on Saturday, July 23, 2011 at 3:22 pm
What a sweet surprise! :) Great post.
on Saturday, July 23, 2011 at 3:58 pm
Santona Momtaz
All One in Christ Church Fellowship
Dhaka, Bangladesh
on Monday, July 25, 2011 at 4:44 am
I need to paste this to my nose with a handle so I can see it as I go through my day. I think this is the majority of my problems.
on Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at 9:24 am