Misplaced Expectations Lead to Disappointment

Ever have an expectation of yourself and know you may not be able to meet it? Or how about the expectation others have of us and we know we can’t meet those either? Well, here’s a new thought I had today: misplaced expectations lead to disappointment.

I did it again. I listened to a lie from the enemy. Instead of catching it immediately, it lingered for quite some time today. Here’s the lie that has been fed to me for years: They expect you to write a certain way, deliver a specific level of content, in a perfect way. You can’t just ignore what your audience wants. You need to take a lot of time to write so that it is worthy of others to read it. 

Blah. Blah. Blah. The Devil and his crew are merciless and relentless. Today, they were no different to me than countless other days.

Misplaced Expectations Lead to Disappointment

Today was a holiday for me and I spent in a wonderful way. As I was driving home just a few minutes ago, knowing I still needed to write this blog post, and it’s already past 8:00 p.m., the old lies started filling my mind again. 

I started thinking about expectations. Anxiety and worry started to rise inside of me because I did not have a clue what I would write about tonight. 

Speaking out loud to Jesus, I said, “They expect more of me now. They expect me to have well-thought-out writing.” My mind went down a rabbit hole fast. I started to believe that you, my reader, would feel disappointed in me. Then I started to feel disappointed in myself. My mind went down an old path that I wouldn’t be able to deliver worthy content to you tonight. Misplaced expectations lead to disappointment.

Thank goodness the Holy Spirit interceded these lies and gently spoke to me, “You’re not writing to please others’ expectations. You are writing to obey Jesus.” 

Then God also reminded me that, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Colossians 3:23, ESV

I don’t think it gets any clearer than that. And the Devil and his lies were shut down. And God and I got to work thinking about what I would write tonight.

God’s Approval Only

Part of this November New Challenge for me is changing habits and mindsets, and getting back into pursuing my calling for Jesus. Truthfully, there has been no time that Jesus has ever put an expectation on me that I must jump through all these writing hoops. He just wants me writing for Him and sharing with you what He’s teaching me.

Tonight, on a 15-minute drive home, I learned that misplaced expectations lead to disappointment. We personally can get disappointed when we think others have these crazy expectations of us. And when we put crazy expectations on ourselves too.

The enemy likes to make us believe that we need the approval of man, and that we must reach these outlandish goals and aspirations no matter what. If we don’t, well, we’re worthless, right? No! That is not how God speaks to or views us. Rather, He is kind, gentle, compassationate. Never condemning us.

However, He does tell us “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2, ESV

Tonight, God’s good and acceptable and perfect will for me was to realize I needed to recognize the lies, change my thought, and then practice a new thought. God put a new thought in my mind: Misplaced expectations lead to disappointment. But God is not disappointed in me.

Changing a mindset takes catching ourselves thinking wrong, then practicing the right thought(s), and giving ourselves time for the new mindset to pave its way into your mind.

Blessing

May you recognize any wrong thinking quickly, look to God for the right thoughts, and then practice those thoughts. May you get rid of misplaced expectations, and remember that you are working for the Lord, not for people.