Ditch the Expectations (#fmf)

I am in a season of life where I don't know what to expect next. Each day is different from the last, and it holds unique challenges and blessings, appointments and interruptions, and highs and lows. When I entered this season of healing and rest, I expected it to last for a couple months and then I'd be back on my feet and life would go on as usual. But it was through resting (aka something I rarely practiced) that I began working through various areas of my life where I tend to get stuck and unable to move forward. It became evident that this not going to be one quick walk in the park as expected.

I expected that focused prayer, lengthy Bible study, and stopping all ministry for a short period of time would be enough to overcome these difficult spots. But as the days went on, I began seeing that the journey to wholeness is a process. It's not something that can be rushed and what is expected is least likely to happen.

But in order to create that deep life change so we don't keep getting stuck in the same place, the journey teaches us early on how to let go of our expectations. From there, we can either embrace or resist the process. If we resist, misery begins to set in. It comes across as impatience, frustration, simmering anger just below the surface, or an "it's not fair" attitude as we watch everyone around us living their lives as usual while we're stuck fighting for even the next moment. And before we know it, we are right back where we started, no changes made to our lives, and resigned to expecting the same things we've always known.

But if we embrace the process, we find ourselves beginning to empty our arms in order to reach out for something different. We find room there to claim God's promises in new and personal ways. Isaiah 43:18-19 says, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." That verse always makes me want to drop everything, including the secret expectations of how I think things should be, and look for those new things!

Why do I hang on to my expectations for so long when I can let go and see what God has to offer me? And what if in letting go of those expectations, I find something better than I could ever dream of because it's not something limited to my creativity or control? What if I discover that ditching expectations opens my life up to deep mystery and child-like wonder with each new discovery? And what if it's in the discovery where life slowly changes, old messages are erased, and healing happens all because I dared to embrace the hope of something new over the confines of my expectations?

Five Minute Friday (#FMFparty) gives writers a word prompt. We are encouraged to write whatever comes to mind about that word in just five minutes (although, I usually go longer bcs FMF helps fuel that spark in me to write).  No editing, no perfection, only writing from the heart.  To find out more, visit http://fiveminutefriday.com/.  This week's word is "EXPECT".