GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Kimberly Lawrence
Today's Scripture: “Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.” Jonah 4:3, NLT
Theme: Loyalty to our own predictions rather than to God’s will is immature, sinful, and self-centered.
FAIR IS FAIR
When my daughter was in middle school, I was called to the principal’s office for him to tell me she received a zero on a homework assignment…for cheating. He explained she had completed the homework assignment and received a grade of 100% but made the unfortunate choice to pass her work to another student who had not done it for himself. Both received failing grades and a parent-principal conference. I was fully supportive of the school’s punishment, a justified consequence to her action, and her unethical behavior was further addressed at home.
Fast forward to the end of the year awards ceremony. Sitting in the audience as students were called up for specific acknowledgement, I heard the name of the student who had been the recipient of my daughter’s completed work called to receive an award for the very same subject for which they were both reprimanded for cheating! What? Impossible! I was suddenly furious. Not because my daughter didn’t receive an award but that HE DID! How was that fair or just? That did not fit my expectation of an outcome!
FOCUSED ON OURSELVES
The Scripture this week reflects how easy it is to become frustrated and indignant when God doesn’t act the way we think He should. Jonah was angry because God showed mercy to Nineveh. He wanted justice on his terms, but God showed compassion. The problem wasn’t simply that Jonah was disappointed. It was that he had become more committed to his own expectation than to God’s purpose. Similarly, it’s easy for us to become so focused on what we want – justice, recognition, or to be “right” – that we sometimes lose sight of God’s grand plan. Thankfully, our loving God didn’t reject Jonah and He won’t reject us.
TRUST HIS PLAN
I often make assumptions about how a situation will turn out, what someone deserves, what God should do, and then become frustrated when reality doesn’t match my predictions. My expectation – my plan – quietly becomes more important than my trust in God. Wanting God to fit into my plan rather than surrendering to Him puts me at the center, not Him. Faith means remembering that God sees what we cannot and confidence that His plan is perfect.
Make It Personal: As I read Jonah 4 this week, I envisioned Jonah stomping off and pouting, watching from afar, when he didn’t get what he wanted. Jonah basically said, “I knew it!” and felt vindicated for his prediction. It’s easy to recognize this type of self-centered behavior in myself. How often have I acted the same way when things didn’t go according to my plan or timeline? This week let’s focus on celebrating God’s mercy, even when it doesn’t match our expectations. Pay attention when disappointment turns to anger and ask whose interests you are focused on. And stop pouting when God changes the outcome! Recognize His mighty hand has a greater plan than you can imagine.
Pray: Lord, don’t let me become so attached to my expectations that I resist Your purposes. Show me where I’m more concerned about being right than being faithful. Help me surrender my predictions, trust Your wisdom, and see people the way You see them…with love, grace and forgiveness.
Read: Isaiah 55:8-9; Jeremiah 10:23; Psalm 37:5
Weekly Memory Verse: “Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.” Jonah 4:3, NLT