Disappointments and Divine Appointments
Wednesday, December 26, 2012 at 7:50PM 
Happy Wednesday, Friends!
And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post most Wednesdays and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. Every once in a while I give away fun stuff to those who post on my blog.
This week I’ll give away a couple copies of my NEW book, ‘Your Beautiful Purpose’ (releases in January). So share a thought or insight, bless lots of people, and you might win a copy of Your Beautiful Purpose: Discovering and Enjoying What God Can Do Through You. I’m excited about this book. I pray it blesses you!
Now on to my topic…
Several years ago my mentor said these compelling words to me: Susie, there’s a big difference between expectation and expectancy. Expectation is premeditated disappointment, where expectancy involves faith. Expectation means you’ve decided how things need to turn out for you to be okay; expectancy engages your faith in the fact that God is involved in your life, but it opens up the possibility that He may come through for you in a way and at a time that you least expect.
Wow, wise words, wouldn’t you say?
I don’t know what kind of year you’ve had but for me, it’s been a bittersweet one. On one hand we’ve seen God move in ways that have completely inspired our faith, and on the other hand, we’ve experienced loss and heartbreak in ways that have left me breathless.
Can you relate?
What are we to do with the very real sense of loss, disappointment, and heartbreak we encounter along life’s way? How do we keep our disappointments from tangling us up, from strangling our joy, and from skewing our perspective?
The answer, I believe, is this:
To release expectation
To embrace expectancy
It’s time to open our clenched fists and release the crinkled picture of how we thought things would look by now. It’s time to hand it over to the One who knows us best and loves us most. God has a bigger canvas and a far bigger brush. He can paint something beautiful with our lives and with our story that we can’t even comprehend right now. We need to give Him time and space to work in, through, and around us. It’s time to release our puny, detailed expectation of what we think our lives should look like.
And, it’s time to pick up expectancy and to wrap our arms around the fact that Jesus is alive and active in our lives. He moves on faith. Fear doesn’t motivate Him. Faith does. So as we embrace His love and trust His promise to hear our prayers and respond to our faith, we can know, that any day now, Jesus will break through in ways that surprise us.
We’re never out of His care, never out of His reach. He is the God of breakthroughs and He loves to break through when the time is right.
Embrace expectancy. Tell yourself that any day now, you’ll see glimpses of glory and evidences of His activity in your life. Because it’s true; right now, He’s moving on your behalf.
Look up. Seek Him. You’ll find Him. He’s got you. And your faith pleases Him greatly.
~Have a blessed week!
Reader Comments (34)
I agree with you Susie !! I am Sure Mary didn't expect to have her first born the way she did either. She probably wanted to recieve an engagement ring and marry before having a baby. God had other plans. He placed the Holyspirit upon her and she was pregnant not even with Josephs baby but with the Holyspirit. The King was to be born. Wow i wonder if her expectation was different ? Did she think the King would be the Savior of the world!!!!!!!!!!!!The journey was far harder than what we as women expect but she trusted and the Lord moved through her for Us!! Not only did she have to wait with expectancy but lots of other people eho were waiting on God witnessed his blessing that day as he had promised long ago. They got to see with their own eyes the child. I wonder if they
thought the King would be a baby in a stable. But trust and faith and expectancy revealed the Power
that God has and the Love he gave to us that day as a pure gift to all who was willing to see and recieve!
I popped over to Amazon to take a peek and can honestly recommend this as a must read. Within the small sample there were treasures I as well as many could relate to. Thank you for sharing such I sight.
The past seven years have been a journey through the valley of the shadow of death.... death of a dear loved one... death of hopes,,dreams.... relationships.... yet in the midst of this darkness .. treasures I found. I would love for people to experience the depth of relationship with God that I have found here... but one the other hand would not wish this journey on anyone. Through it all...there has been this deep seeded hope... that I can not shake. I faced my biggest fears...and while I have not yet reached the promised land...I see Gods hand everyday... like Moses in the desert...following the pillar of smoke by day and the pillar of fire by night. I have only to keep my eyes on HIM and I walk in a peace, hope and strength that is NOT humanly possible. And all the while HIS hope keeps me moving forward... when all earthly hope is gone. I am currently at the brink of my red sea... there is no way out without HIM...but that is where the greatest miracles are seen.... Now I standing..waiting to see the salvation He will bring!
Thank you Susie! I choose to embrace expectancy!!! It is a nicer way of saying that I don't know what the future holds- I am just trusting that God does and He can make a way where there seems to be now way.
This has been a difficult year for us and we are financially in a low spot, due partly due my husband's chronic illnesses and partly to the economy and how it has affected new construction which is his industry. I have spent many hours praying and asking God why no answer has come forth. One very trying, burdensome situation has been a prayer request for the past 24 years. I have felt very weary and tired of praying many times this year. I think that my faith is being tried and tested and hopefully growing and perfected on anew level.
One day God revealed to me that what I need to do is MAGNIFY Him. And so that is what I try to do - though it can be a battle to make the circumstances look smaller and focus on my God Who is bigger than that. So now I will add "embracing expectancy" to the Magnifying and hold onto Who God is and His promises. And waiting for His breakthrough in whatever way that unfolds.
Hi Susie, I am so grateful to have the oppertunity to hear you speak a few weeks back @ ECC! I was lifted up by the passion you have. This has been a very trying year, I was in a motorcycle accident in Feburary while living in Arizona, had to move back to MN for treatment and the support of my family. I also had to come to realize that I am an alcoholic and went into in-patient treatment to battle the disease of addiction. It is a battle I fight everyday but also has got me on the wonderful and encouraging path to let Jesus lead the way for me. I didn't not grow up with any sense of having God be #1 in my life but wow has it been amzing. My life has so much more meaning and glory now. The Lord has bestowed upon me how devine life is when you put all your trust and love into Him. I am very thankful for the oppertunity to hear you or even be alive to know of you and the strength you offer. Thank you so much for coming to ECC and all your work you do for The greatest gift to us...Jesus!
God bless you and Happy Holidays!
Tanya
Susie,
Thank you for the wonderful insight. I'm so moved by your postings and your total view of who Christ is and how he works in our lives. We can never get enough inspiration in our days without keeping our attention and eyes on Jesus. Thank you again for your ministry and helping women all over the world. Hugs, Love & Peace. Amy
Wow, God used to speak to me. I know it does not look like with the natural eye but there is a breakthrough busting thru my storm. I am Thank God right now. He is an on time God
love it blog, would love the book as I trust Jesus to reveal the next step
This past year I have had to learn to serve a woman that never liked me and has judge me since the day I married her grandson 14 years ago. My husband, youngest daughter, corgi and kitty moved in with 90 year old grandmother one year ago to help her and take care of her house. I have learned the difference of being a servant and being taken advantage of. Grandma has learned to be humble which has not been easy for her. She was failing miserably at first with a F and now I think she has made it to a C. If I needed to make something known I would have to haven husband say it because she doesn't give what I say any worthiness. My husbands parents are alcoholics and dealing with them has been impossible at times this past year. My mother is still living with man who molested my oldest daughter. My father is being sued by his sister. My brother has been homeless for the past year and battling drug addiction. I have had many heartaches and disappointments this past year. My hope and life come from my Father in heaven. I have to keep looking up to make any sense of this life. I love Him with every part of my being. And I believe these trials have strengthened my love and relationship with Him. Thank you, Dana
This has really helped me place things into perspective. I've been dealing with feelings of inadequacy and depression, and of course the more you dwell on it, the worse it gets. Moving out of the expecations that I think should be and on to the expectancy of the Father, brings me to a spot of more equillibrium. And again reminds me that I am loved, no matter what.
I really enjoyed reading your blog today.
I've learned alot about expectancy over these last couple months. As I was helping to care for my dad in the last weeks of his life - a big blowup with my brother came up. I figured out then - that God truly does work in ALL situations. I learned to watch each day with expectancy to see how He was going to show up. I knew that I could do nothing to change the situation I was in...only God could do that. I found that He was pouring into and through me the fruits of His Spirit. It was absolutely amazing. I saw myself living out patience, kindness, love (to one who was acting very unlovable at the time), joy - amazing joy, kindness....and most of all - self control. What an amazing journey it is when you see His hand at work - and you watch and wait. Expectancy comes with learning to wait on God. For me - that's the hardest part - to wait on God. But it's getting a little easier as each day goes by. I love living with expectancy now. Your message is even more confirmation of God's work in my life right now.
Thank you for your wise words and blessings!!
Thank you for the long awaited clairity about expectation vs. expectancy! I have often attempted to explain the difference. " Disappointments and Divine Appointments" well said :) Blessings of Peace, Laurie
I so needed this today. To learn the difference between expectation and expectancy. What a change of attitude this makes for me. What a great way to see what God has in store for me vs what I think I need. I choose God's plan over mine. Thank you so much for your words. Blessings.
You are so totally hitting a nerve in my heart! I have a burden on my life to help a young homeless woman...and I so want others to share in my "desire". I have had an expectation that that others in my community would help...and I've seen very little. If I focus on God with expectancy of Who I know He is and What I know He can do, I'm sure I will see more than I ever imagined. Ephesians 3:20, 21--He will do exceedingly, abundantly above and beyond more than we ask or think!
Thank you so much for putting perspective on these words!
Blessings to you and yours...Lindsey
This is excellent Susie. So often I want to dictate what I will allow and not allow in my life, and I forget that God's plan is always going to be the overall best plan, so I really just need to let out a sigh and smile. (the sighing part is because I have three kids under the age of 6 at home) ;) You've said before, "God's will is always going to be your best case scenario" and there is something in knowing that that gives me sense of willful surrender. Surrendering to God's will even when I feel stubborn, and embracing His will even when I feel resistant, knowing that God will provide what I need as I go. ....Singing your song back to you... "I have to trust my God more than my feelings". :) Thank you Susie!! Me love you long time. :D
Thank you for this, Susie. It is so true. This has been a difficult year. A year of firsts without my Mom. While I am glad that she is with Jesus and no longer suffering and in pain it is tough to let go. I know she is in a happier place. I can't wait to see her again. Your blog has given me some things to think about. Thank you and have a blessed and safe new year!
This blog entry rock me this morning. Expectation vs Expectancy. Wow Thank you! Much to ponder, much to let go.......I already feel freer:)
Great post, thank you. A number of years ago I listened to a message by my pastor. He was talking about the difference between Grace and law and other words that we may use for law. He mentioned principles, rules, procedures and expectations. What he said was that our expectations not only affect us, but they may put others under the law and the Word says that the law kills. As someone with grown children, I then realized how easy it is to do and continue to thank God for that understanding and ask Him to keep me from putting those I love under my expectations, (law).
What great insight. How many times are we disappointed because OUR expectations aren't met? I love this view on expectancy verses expectation. I am making this one of my goals for 2013; to wait on the LORD with a sense of expectancy instead of looking for him to meet my expectations. Love it! You're a blessing.
Susie this is SO good and very timely for my family. So very encouraging!
Keri
When I first got married I didn't have a job. I stayed at home cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, working the garden and other odds and ends. There were days I did a lot and others I didn't have much to do. I wrestled because I felt like I wasn't doing anything really that was 'worthy' or that I had a purpose. I was taught to work hard. How could I prove myself and be a hard worker if I didn't have a job? I felt lazy. At the end of 4 months I was talking with my husband and he said, "Maybe God is asking you to redefine your definition of 'purpose' and what it is for you." At first I was mad and didn't like what he said. But a day later I thought about it more and knew he was right. Just because I didn't have a job, wasn't always 'busy' or wasn't this huge important person didn't define what my purpose was or wasn't. As of child of God I always have a purpose: bringing glory to God in all that I do and say and in the process bringing life to the dead and encouragement and richness to those already saved. I still wrestle with 'purpose' and what my purpose is in life from time to time. It'll probably become a challenge again when I won't have a job or a routine and become a stay at home mom once the baby comes, due end of January. However, I pray I can remember God's truths and stand firm in his Word and direction for my life. I want to be confident where God has placed me and support my husband in his job as a youth pastor and our new child the way God calls me to. I pray I don't loose sight of this and I pray that my life can be a reflection of Christ and ultimately be used by God to draw people to himself.
What a year of transition! Growing from the spiritual 'rub' of God to embracing the expectancy! Thank you for putting it into words....this amazing daily journey. I am so blessed by your ministry.
Love this so much Susie! I think this is especially key for women. So often things (or people) don't live up to my expectations and I feel let down. But if I put those aside and just carry an air of expectancy into every situation, what a difference that could make! To look for ways that God will show up, without any preconceived ideas or notions ahead of time. To believe the best about people and circumstances. To know that God is working everything out for my good and to stop comparing my life to others. Thank you for the reminder.
I've been stumbling through my life right now. I know that God will bring good out of the situation, but I just can't see how. I'm saving this post to reread.
Jan