expectations

"The people that praise Him quiet on Palm Sunday on the way into the city — are the same crowd that cry “Crucify” loud on Good Friday when it doesn’t go their way. This is what happens when God doesn’t meet expectations. When God doesn’t conform to hopes, someone always goes looking for a hammer." --Ann Voskamp

So, what do we do when God does not meet our expectations.

I think, we try really hard to not admit He doesn't, sometimes. 

We remind each other that God works all things for the good of those who love Him.

We even go so far as to make excuses for Him ... or give Him an out. 

But the reality is.  Sometimes God doesn't meet our expectations.  It doesn't mean God's uncaring or involved.  It doesn't even mean our expectations are wrong.  There are LOTS of good, godly expectations out there that go unmet.  

What it does mean is that He ways are not our ways.  And somehow we have to reconcile that without being the one to pick up the hammer and shout "crucify!"

I'm still reading What Women Fear and this week the chapter has been the fear of God's plan for my life. Again, most of us don't want to admit it, but we may be afraid of what "His ways are ..."

I'll admit, I am scared to death of being alone for the rest of my life.  I am afraid that that would be God's plan for me.  The author, Angie Smith, lost her baby.  She says, bravely, "His ways are not our ways.  I believe that.  But I certainly don't always like it."

"His ways are not our ways ... and yet, every day. in ways big and small, we tell him we have a better way."  - Angie Smith

Really, we'd not be the first.  Abraham and Sarah created all sorts of grief when they decided to take care of the Father of Many Nations question.  The Israelites found a golden calf to be a solution to their woes.  Ruth lost her husband.  Jonah ran from God's plan.  Paul got thrown in jail.

Angie goes on to say, "The beautiful, difficult love between our Savior and us is magnified  for the world when we remain in this posture of deference.  What a beautiful image we allow Him to paint when we trust Him in seasons of life that feel ugly."

So, we have a choice.  We will have days, even seasons when God just does not meet our expectations.  As we remember this holy week, I have to remind myself, that even for Christ, the plan was not His expectation.  He prayed that there would be any other way.  We do, too, sometimes, begging God to change us or our circumstances.  But at the end of the day, when it's all said and done, we can raise our fist and turn our back in anger. Or, we can admit that while His ways are not ours, that we will choose to trust unswervingly because of the heart of the one whose ways are not ours is always for us.