No doubt we have all bumped up against our expectations. We thought life was going in a particular direction and it didn’t, and we are left in a pool of disappointment. However, have you ever considered how your expectations can blind you and get in the way of seeing the healing available to you in your everyday life?
Have your expectations ever been in the way of seeing God’s path to healing?
Today our featured post from April Schwarz does an excellent job at pointing out how healing can come in many forms. But sometimes we are staring so intensely in the direction of what we think is going to happen we actually miss what is right in front of us.
Years ago, I started a habit of counting the little miracles and journaling them. Over time, I began to notice they were adding up to a BIG answer of prayer and healing. But when I was so fixated on the somewhat larger miracle, I missed seeing God working and answering my prayers. Have you ever done this?
April, our featured writer, leaves us with a challenge, “I would challenge you to let go of those expectations, refocus on Christ alone, and see what happens.”
“In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” John 16: 23-24
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Now for Our Featured Post
Forget Your Expectations
By April Schwarz
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Do you know what is usually at the heart of your disappointment? Click To Tweet
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Expectations are usually at the root of disappointment. Thanks for this great post Maree. The reminders are timely for me—leave it in God’s hands.
Tweeted.
Thanks for the linkup and thank you for linking up at InstaEncouragements!
I am glad my post was timely for you. I am hoping the book launch is going well. I love it, my friends are asking about your book over dinner. Blessings, Maree
Yes, His blessings & miracles of healing come in strange packaging at times, like a time out with Him in chronic health conditions… Healing our spirits is the most amazing healing we can ever have 😉
Bless you,
Jennifer
Yes, it is so amazing how God uses everything. But you are so right the healing of our spirits is the best. Maree
It is funny, I never thought of my injury as God healing me, but now I see it. I held my identity in my appearance and my fitness. When I became injured back in January and could no longer workout, I gained 12 pounds and felt stripped of everything. God showed me, that my identity was in the wrong thing. My injury was a way of healing pride in my heart that I had been praying for. At first I just saw it as something nothing good could come from, but God opened my eyes, and I am so thankful for the healing that came through my unmet expectations. God is soooo good!
Angela – Thank you for sharing a part of your story; it is so helpful. I always believe there is something good to be learned out of everything we go through. Hearing other peoples stories helps to solidify that belief. I am so glad you shared yours. Of course, the circumstances still hurt, but God is so good. Blessings, Maree
I love the idea of counting little miracles. I call them “pennies from heaven”. They do add up to unbelievable riches!
Laurie – I love what you call the little miracles, “pennies from heaven.” Thank you for sharing with us. Maree
He can do it. But appropriate expectations on our part is important. laurensparks.net
Yes! I agree appropriate expectations are super important. Maree
Such a good point. God can “do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). If we just focus on our thoughts rather than His, how limited our answers would be.
Barbara – I love the verse you added to our conversation. You are so right we limit ourselves and God working by our focus and thoughts. Thank you! Maree
By grace, I’ve become pretty skilled at tracing the dotted line between my expectations (often misplaced) and the disappointment that follows.
When we pray for God to give us the desires of our heart, it’s so crucial that we open our stubborn minds and receive the longings that he wants to give us. As Jen Pollock Michel has so beautifully written, “Teach Us to Want.”
Michele – I love your words and quote. Thank you for adding to our conversation. Yes, grace is needed to trace those lines. Maree