When God doesn't meet our expectations

Have you ever found yourself disappointed with God? Perhaps you've prayed fervently for something, only to feel like your prayers have gone unanswered. Or maybe you've faithfully served Him, expecting blessings in return, but instead faced unexpected trials. If so, you're not alone. Even great figures in the Bible, like John the Baptist, struggled with unmet expectations of God.

Consider John's story. Here was a man who had dedicated his life to preparing the way for the Messiah. He had boldly proclaimed Jesus as the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." Yet, we find him in prison, sending his disciples to ask Jesus, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" (Matthew 11:3)

What happened? John had expectations. Perhaps he thought the Messiah would immediately bring judgment upon the wicked or liberate Israel from Roman oppression. Instead, he found himself languishing in prison while Jesus went about healing the sick and preaching good news to the poor. It wasn't what John had envisioned.

This scenario raises an important question: Are there expectations we should have of God? The answer is yes, but they must be realistic expectations based on His promises in Scripture. When we create our own expectations of how God should act or what He should do, we set ourselves up for disappointment.

Jesus' response to John's question is telling. He doesn't rebuke John for doubting. Instead, He points to the evidence of His ministry: "The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them" (Matthew 11:5). Jesus was fulfilling prophecy, just not in the way John expected.

This teaches us an important lesson: In moments of doubt or disappointment, we need to focus on what Jesus is doing rather than what He isn't doing. It's easy to fixate on unanswered prayers or unmet expectations, but doing so can blind us to the ways God is working in our lives and in the world around us.

Human nature tends to focus on what we don't have rather than what we do have, on the negative rather than the positive, and on what we've lost rather than what we've gained. But this perspective can lead us to miss out on recognizing God's blessings and ongoing work in our lives.

Consider the parable of the woodcutter and his white horse, as shared by Max Lucado. The story illustrates how quick we are to judge events as good or bad, blessings or curses, based on our limited perspective. The old man in the story repeatedly reminds the villagers, "We only have a fragment. Life comes in fragments. No one knows if it's a blessing or a curse."

This wisdom echoes the truth found in Isaiah 55:8-9: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

We must remember that God sees the big picture while we only see a fragment. What appears to be a setback or disappointment might be part of a greater plan that we can't yet comprehend. Our challenge is to trust in God's wisdom and timing, even when things don't unfold as we expect.

So how should we respond when God doesn't meet our expectations? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Press into Jesus rather than turn away from Him. When disappointment strikes, it's tempting to distance ourselves from God. But that's precisely when we need to draw closer to Him, bringing our doubts, fears, and frustrations to Him in honest prayer.

2. Rest in knowing that God knows what He's doing. Even when we can't understand His ways, we can trust in His wisdom and love for us.

3. Focus on what God is doing rather than what He isn't doing. Look for evidence of His work in your life and in the world around you.

4. Examine your expectations. Are they based on God's promises in Scripture, or have you created your own ideas of how God should act?

5. Remember that God's love for you never changes. Even in moments of doubt or questioning, God's love remains constant.

It's also worth noting that our unmet expectations can sometimes stem from a lack of obedience or repentance on our part. Jesus rebuked the cities where He had performed many miracles because they did not repent (Matthew 11:20-24). This reminds us that while God's love is unconditional, His blessings often require our response of faith and obedience.

In conclusion, when God doesn't meet our expectations, it's an invitation to grow in faith and understanding. It's a chance to reevaluate our perspective, to trust in God's bigger picture, and to focus on what He is doing rather than what He isn't. As we navigate these challenging times, may we echo the words of the old woodcutter: "I am content with what I know. I am not perturbed by what I don't know."

Let's strive to be people who trust in God's wisdom, even when we can't understand His ways. For as Max Lucado reminds us, God "is the author of our story, and he has already written the final chapter." In that truth, we can find peace and hope, regardless of our current circumstances or unmet expectations.