Episode 336: When Expectations Are Not Met

Episode 336: When Expectations Are Not MetWhat happens when someone doesn’t meet your expectations?When what you assumed they should be doing…Or who you thought they should be…Doesn’t match your reality?Recently, the Holy Spirit highlighted this to me as I studied Gospel of Matthew 11.John the Baptist was in prison. This was the same John who boldly declared Jesus as the Lamb of God. Yet while in prison, he sent his disciples to ask Jesus:“Are You the One who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Matthew 11:3)John had an expectation of how the Messiah would move. But Jesus was moving in a way John did not anticipate — healing, restoring, preaching good news.Jesus didn’t rebuke him. He responded with evidence:The blind see.The lame walk.The deaf hear.The dead are raised.The poor have the gospel preached to them.And then Jesus said:“And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” Matthew 11:6That scripture pierced my heart.I had to do a heart check.Have I placed expectations on my loved ones that God never placed on them?Am I seeing them through God’s eyes or through my own assumptions?When it comes to my loved ones Am I supporting them according to what God has called them to be?Or am I quietly measuring them against my personal checklist?And honestly, I had to ask myself:Have I truly sought the face of God concerning their lives and destiny?Because when expectations are not met, something subtle but dangerous can happen - offence.First hurt.Then disappointment.Then distance.And before you realise it, you may be sitting in a prison not necessarily physical like John but emotional. A prison of offence.Sometimes the prison isn’t caused by what they did.It’s caused by the expectations we never surrendered to God.Maybe the prayer isn’t, “Lord, change them.”Maybe it’s, “Lord, align my heart with Yours.”Help me see them the way You see them.Help me love them the way You love them.Help me release them from my silent expectations.That’s freedom.