It was the first day of summer and a family was on their way to the beach to enjoy a relaxing day of fun in the sun.
The children were so excited because it had been a full year since their last trip to the beach and they could not wait to jump in the waves, build sand castles, and add to their collection of seashells.
It was a long drive to the beach, but just 10 minutes before arriving the rain began to fall – a thunderstorm.
Their excitement turned to disappointment.
You know this same thing can happen to us as well when we face difficulties and unexpected circumstances in our lives. Have you ever had preconceived expectations of something only to find out that in reality the outcome was much different than those early expectations?
Many people live their lives in fear with a sense of hopelessness and worry because what they thought life was all about can quickly come crashing in when circumstances change.
For example, a life consumed with the pressures of our world to pursue fame and fortune at whatever the cost will only leave us wanting more of what we do not have or constantly fearful of losing what we have gained to the next person that is trying to climb that same ladder to the top.
So how do we make sure that our expectations match our reality so that we do not end up disappointed with a sense of hopelessness in our lives?
The only way to achieve this is by not setting false expectations in your life.
If your expectations of life are only setting yourself up for failure, the reality is that at some point those expectations will fail you.
In John 14:6 Jesus declared: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Any expectations in this life other than Jesus being the Creator, Sustainer, and Savior of our lives will only leave you disappointed in the end.
Chasing after the things of this world will only leave you feeling empty and dissatisfied when expectations meet the reality that true life is only found in Christ and nothing else.
Josh Arrington is pastor of Church on the Rock in Pitt Meadows.