2020 has not been what I expected (nor I imagine you).
A year with such a futuristic name, looked upon with such promise, is now one we would mostly like to put in the rearview mirror. We had been riding a bull market, marveling at our technological advancements, and witnessing the resurgence of the Lakers when it all came to an abrupt halt. An extended quarantine closed our businesses, shuttered our churches, and cancelled our sporting events. Our expectation of not only a continuation of what we had previously experienced, but something even greater was shattered.
This expectation of a future typifying our specific wants and needs is an aspect of the human condition has existed throughout time. Take for example John the Baptist. The messiah John was expecting was someone like himself who would rain down fire, and hold people accountable. However, the Jesus who arrived failed to meet John’s self-imposed expectations and instead proved to be a gentle, loving person who attended parties and spent time with disreputable characters. John knew Jesus was Jesus, had known since birth, but his own expectations caused him to doubt and send his disciples to investigate.
“The men showed up before Jesus and said, “John the Baptizer sent us to ask you, ‘Are you the One we’ve been expecting, or are we still waiting?’””
John felt robbed not because of what he was promised, for that was fulfilled in the coming of the messiah, but because he had limited the manner in which God could fulfill the promise.
From our limited perspective we expect God will act in certain ways, yet the contrary so often emerges. When we expect rapture, we are left to wait, when we expect judgment, we find forgiveness, when we expect sorrow, we find joy. God is not limited to our expectations. And thankfully not! For how limited a God I daily create. His power and perspective far exceed that of our own and thereby shatter our limiting expectations.
Let 2020 be the year we let exchange expectations for gratitude. Instead of always looking at the next year, or next opportunity, let us instead be fully present and grateful for the abundance He has provided and will continue to provide, albeit in a different form than we might have chosen. If we can shift our hearts from expectations and disappointments, we might just experience awe and gratitude.