“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. Psalm 62:5 ESV
It was our third Valentine’s Day together…maybe our fourth. We were young and newly married and in that season when making a big deal out of Valentine’s Day was still a big deal (at least for me). I found a quaint little bed and breakfast that was far enough away to feel adventurous and booked our spot several weeks ahead of time. In our young married state the pre-paid cost was nothing less than a non-refundable splurge.
The day we were supposed to go, our not yet one year old daughter started acting like not quite herself. Not fully sick, but that clingy/whiny/I could break out in a fever any moment now way. A fairly new mom I was hesitant to leave her. My kind friend who had volunteered to babysit overnight was a veteran mom and assured me that they would be fine. I walked forward looking back and got in the car comforted by the knowledge that I would only be a phone call away and could easily rush home if I needed to.
And we were off. Check in was at 3:00 and I had planned our time together to make the absolute most of it. Excitedly we pulled up to the front of the beautifully decorated home. From the car I noticed a hand written note upon the door. It stated:
Found abandoned kittens, had to take to vet. Be back ASAP.
A huge letdown, somehow that had failed to make it into my expectations for the weekend. Instead of feeling even a twinge of sympathy for said abandoned kittens and a rush of respect for the individual who found them and was kindhearted enough to take them to the vet, I only felt irritated.
My plan was interrupted.
My schedule was now off.
My expectations were not being met.
How could a business establishment with an official “check in” and “check-out” time fail to have someone to greet you when it was your time to check in?
Because we had no idea when ASAP would be, we decided to go to an early dinner and check in late. I’d like to say that I was able to shake off the initial irritation and disappointment and that the rest of our time was wonderful but unfortunately that wasn’t the case.
Every minute we had to wait to check in felt like stolen time and money to me. I was unable to let go of the frustration of my expectations not being met.
This irritated my husband.
Our entire evening away was tainted, leaving both of our expectations unmet.
This wasn’t the first, or the last time that unmet expectations impacted my life in a negative way. In having expectations of people, of churches, of experiences, and of LIFE, time and time again I have found myself face to face and heart to heart with disappointment.
Often, my great expectations weren’t so great after all-other times, the frailty of humanity lent to realistic unmet expectations.
“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. Psalm 62:5 ESV
What the Lord has revealed to me lately is that the only safe place to put my expectations are upon Him.
I can expect that He will be faithful to His Word.
So very much is encompassed within that one sentence.
He will always be with me, never leaving or forsaking me.
He will keep all of His promises. He is faithful, trustworthy and true.
His love for me never changes.
He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
He is always on my side, defending, protecting and leading and guiding me into all truth.
These truths are the same for you. Truth is truth and truth doesn't change.
Father, I thank you for the truth I find within your Holy Word. Help me Lord to place my hope and expectations in you and you alone.
~My Father's Daughter
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