Pastor Oluwaseyi Osanyinbi
The meaning of the word expectation is: the act of looking forward to a future event with at least some belief that the event will happen. The difference between faith and expectation is that faith is beyond you. It is beyond your capacity to bring something to pass. An example of such an ‘impossible case’ is Sarah’s being able to conceive and give birth at such an advanced age. The Bible records that her body was as good as dead.
[biblegateway passage=”Job 6:1-9, 32:1-8″ display=”Job 6:1-9, 32:1-8″]
People sometimes expect God to act or do things that are out of His character. It is true that nothing is impossible for God to do, but there are some things that God will not do. For example, cannot lie or deceive. He will not fight or take the life of someone who hasn’t done wrong.
You must know His nature. This lack of understanding is what puts a lot of people in trouble. You must know what God can do, what He cannot do and what He is willing to do.
As much as we have expectations concerning God so he too has expectations concerning us. Our parents also have expectations concerning us. This is the reason for broken relationships- that expectations are not met. You must ask yourself who are the stakeholders in your life.
[biblegateway passage=”Ecclesiastes 12:13″ display=”Ecclesiastes 12:13″]
God did not leave us without communicating His expectations for our lives to us. Your education is not just because your parents could send you to school but so you can be able to read and learn. You can go to God’s Word and determine what He wants from you. And from the scriptures we see that He wants us to fear Him.
[biblegateway passage=”Hebrews 10:12-13″ display=”Hebrews 10:12-13″]
The expectation of God is that you and I will join hands with the Holy Spirit to bring His word in the above text to pass. Don’t frustrate His expectation concerning your life. Fear Him and obey His commandments- this is what He requires of us. Paul said He had not frustrated the grace that was given to him. That grace has also been given to us in order that we are able to live fruitful lives, and to fulfill the call on our lives to meet God’s expectation.