Having High Expectations

We come together as a community of Christians to worship, pray and learn with one another. In our gathering we are able to care for and encourage one another through all the challenges of life. We come together to encounter God – Creator, Saviour & Spirit, in the company of each other. However, it is still possible to remain unchanged by this – especially if we are aware that we’re just going through the motions.

Although we want to be accepted in our neighbourhoods and workplaces and schools and leisure centres, the Bible teaches that we should stand out, not in a negative anti-social way, but rather as sources of light, peace and hope. If we struggle in this area, this may challenge us to think about our level of faith. In one way, faith is a gift of God, as are all good things, enabling us to truly respond to God’s other great gift of grace. However, faith is something that we have the responsibility of nurturing and developing, so that it actually makes a real difference in our daily lives, and also a significant contribution to other people and the community in general.

There should be something about us that other people want! At the very least our attitudes and priorities and lifestyle should make others curious. If this is not the case, could the reason be – that we have limited expectations of what God can actually accomplish! Sometimes there may be little evident difference between Jesus-followers and those who have never heard of Jesus – some Christians may not display any more light, peace and hope than anyone else!

Earthly fathers, who follow in the path of Jesus, who have adopted Jesus’ teaching deep within them, should be able to provide wonderful guidance to their sons and daughters – that will bear substantial fruit. This is not to say that it will ever be easy – just that the resources available in God (if such fathers access them) are sufficient to meet almost every challenge.

Do we really believe that God can teach us all we need to know to cope with life?
Do we really believe that God can help us conquer the things that hold us back from having a really fulfilling life?
Do we really believe what we read in the Lord’s Prayer, that God can actually “deliver us from evil” ie. the impact of evil?
Do we really believe that God can empower us sufficiently to make a real impact
on this community for Him? Or is this really only a ‘pipe-dream’ – nice sentiments not taken too seriously!

If we want to excel in our lives, and if we want our church community to have a positive, redemptive effect on those around us, then we heed to lift our expectations about what God can do! If we want others to be able to connect with God in the same way we have, then we have to trust God to work through us to bring this about.

Many people, biblical and historical, have achieved this; despite all the difficulties and challenges of life. The psalms are one source of inspiration for us here, as we grapple with having high expectations of God, throughout the rough and tumble of life. As an example, Psalm 31 expresses the deepest thoughts and emotions of the writer (commonly held to be David) – in terms of his relationship with the society around him, and also in terms of his relationship with God that intersects with this.

Psalm 31 begins with a sense of prayerfulness (v.1-2) - there is included here a deep desire to be heard by God; continues with statements of raw ingrained trust (v.3-5); then reflects confidence based on God’s faithfulness in the past (v.6-8) - God has had no association with those who oppose Him through their the worthless activities & selfishness, but God has drawn close to those who do respond to His ways & priorities on earth.

Despite these assurances however, the psalmist still has need to express his inner turmoil (v.9-13). And God is ready to hear the cries of his heart and his personal
need for deliverance from the things that oppress him in life. Just because we trust God and have confidence in God for our future, does not mean we are exempt from human dilemmas. Indeed, handled properly, it will be these difficulties that enable
us to grow and mature and excel for God. The psalmist comes in humble trust and expresses his need.

This psalmist is distressed, sorrowful, miserable, physically & emotionally spent.
The writer has suffered opposition, alienation, rejection, abandonment.
He feels broken and lifeless, has even developed a sense of shame.
All seems lost, and whether this is real or not – everyone seems to have it in for him.

The central point of this psalm is in verse 14, where at the height of all this anxiety, the psalmist reaffirms the basic unwavering principle of his life, saying:
But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, ‘You are my God.’

This became the very deliberate mindset of the psalmist – a ‘mantra’ if you like.
This is what we need to be in the practice of saying! A lot!! I completely depend
upon You my God, and believe that You will care for me through thick and thin;
every part of my being is in Your hands!!!

And indeed we can have very high expectations for what God can do for us. We don’t have to wallow in misery, or endlessly feel oppressed – God can deliver us!

Sometimes God will overrule on our behalf. Sometimes though, God’s will for us (within this fallen world) is to endure imperfections of various kinds, and permits certain suffering; but we can always have access to God’s loving, caring touch through which we ourselves find ways to cope, overcome and even experience victory (over those things that tend to imprison us). Thus important lessons can be learned, and good character developed. What a witness to our Loving Creator God we can be, by utilising His strength in the place of our greatest weaknesses.

Such deliverance is expressed in verses 15-18.

There will be the ultimate vindication of God’s faithful children.
Our detractors will be silenced in the face of our integrity.
God can bring blessing out of the direst circumstances.
God’s light will be seen in us.

So, let’s not pray half-heartedly as if God may only possibly be able to deliver us.
Let’s pray with high expectations of the wonderful things God can do!

We shouldn’t see any obstacles before us as insurmountable, when we have access to the re-creative power of God. If I have a temper problem, I don’t have to just manage it – I can allow God to do a new work in me. I may always have a bit of a vulnerability here, but God will continue to mould me into the image of the Prince
of Peace (Jesus) – if I allow God to!! If I have a problem getting to know people – whereas I may never be an extravert, God can teach me that I have value, and give
me the confidence to speak to others.

We may see some of the challenges that face us as a church as somewhat daunting. But there is no need to! We are part of God’s mission, and God will honour all those that trust in Him, and stick out there neck to share their faith!! Let’s have high expectations for what God will do amongst us and around us. I believe we together can have a significant impact for good in this community. I don’t doubt that it will be hard work. But I also don’t doubt that God will give us everything that we really need to fulfil the call upon us.

The psalmist moves on in the context of complete trust, through his desire for deliverance and effectiveness, toward wonderful statements of thanksgiving and praise (v.19-22).

How good is God – look what He’s done!
In all the complexity of life – I can find refuge & shelter in God!
When I need God the most – His rock solid unshakable love is there!
When I desired God’s “ear” and attention – I was heard!

And then this psalm concludes with strong words of witness to all generations
(v.23-24). God will have the final say; until then: love God, stay faithful,
keep up your courage, be expectant – God is about to act!