EXPECTATIONS

With a popular new president being sworn in today, and with the Arizona Cardinals going to their first NFL Championship game in 65 years, expectations are swirling around here in Arizona like a desert whirlwind. And people want their expectations to come true.

Hopes, desires, and dreams are all powerful agents in life, and when unfulfilled, they can be really painful. There is a fine line between wanting our expectations and needing them to be true. It's the difference between a joyful life and a painful life.

Some of us expect certain things to come true, and when they don't, we look for someone to blame. What we wanted didn't happen, so it must be someone's fault. Rarely will we realize our expectations may be unrealistic. Basing happiness on someone else fulfilling our expectations is a recipe for trouble.

Broken expectations are a fact of life. Everyone has experienced them. We need to understand why we have them, where they came from, and why we value them so much. A key to surviving this pain is understanding what expectations are and how they are made. 

Expectations can be defined thus:  "External Influence + Internal Influence = Expectation." In the case of our new President, millions of Americans believe he will bring the positive things America needs to regain its economic stability and political honor. The External Influence (hard times) plus Internal Influence (people's hopes) equals the Expectation (our new president will bring us good times).

In the case of football, a lot of folks down here are hoping the Cards can pull off another miracle. Expectations about the Super Bowl are not as important (except maybe on game day) as America's world standing, but they are expectations still. When expectations do not come to pass, there will be sadness and blame to go around.

God calls us to place our trust, not in our own hopes or desires, but in His promises. I've always held to this axion: "Trust God completely; Trust people provisionally." People will fail you - that's a fact - but God will not fail you. He always keeps His promises. God's Word is reliable and always helps us. 

There are times we need to let go of some expectations. A young man who thinks his young girl is perfect will soon be disappointed. He needs to release her from his expectation of perfection. Only God is perfect. Only heaven will have everything just as we want it. Only angels could win every Super Bowl. Pastors and churches might fail us. Parents and children could disappoint us. Politicians probably will betray us. 

Only God is perfect. He is the one we should trust completely.  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

God bless Pres. Obama! Go Cardinals!