First Lady of American Theatre Helen Hayes once told a story of her attempt to cook her first Thanksgiving turkey. Although not much of a cook and after several years of marriage, she committed to try and prepare her own turkey for the festive holiday. Knowing this would come as a bit of a shock to her husband and son, she sat them down and said, “This may not come out exactly the way you want it to. If it is not a good turkey, don’t say a thing. Without any comment, just stand up from the table, and we’ll go to the nearest restaurant and eat.” Some time later, Helen walked into the dining room with the turkey only to find her husband and son already standing with their coats and hats on! The boys weren’t taking any chances!
As Helen Hayes husband and son demonstrate, our expectations affect and direct our conduct. What we see happening next tends to shape what we do next. What we think is possible tends to control what we are willing to try. I think we all would admit that expectations play a very important role in life, for they either limit us or liberate us. To expect much allows us to lean forward into the day believing the best is yet to come. To expect little has us on our heels and wondering if our best days are behind us. Expectations set the mood in life; they either fuel optimism or feed pessimism.
For the Christian, expectations ought to be sky high because we believe in a God who is able to do exceedingly, abundant, above all that we can ask or think according to the power that works in us (Eph. 3:20-21). Throughout chapters one through three Paul has been leading the Ephesians on a journey of discovery regarding the abundant riches of God’s grace and glory (Eph. 1:7, 18; 2:7; 3:16; 3:8). In this final majestic view of God and the unsearchable riches of Christ, Paul reminds the Ephesians and us that our expectations ought not to be bound by human reason or resources because God, in His omniscience and omnipotence exceeds human reason and resources. God is able to do what we think cannot be done. God is able to supply in abundance, what in our lives is in short supply. According to Paul, God’s ability exceeds our comprehension and God’s abundance exceeds our multiplied needs. God is able to do all, above all, abundantly above all, and exceedingly abundantly above all!
Talk about God’s abundance: God’s pardon is abundant (Isa. 55:7); God’s kindness is abundant (Neh. 9:17); God’s blessings are abundant (Psalm 65:11); God’s peace is abundant (Jer. 33:6); God’s Spirit is abundant (Titus 3:5-6); God’s irrepressible hope is abundant (1 Peter 1:3-4); and God’s gift of life in Christ is abundant (John 10:10). Christians ought to be people of great expectations! Yet, the sad thing is that we often lack this kind of expectation. I think we can all say with the English preacher John Jowett, “What I have asked for is as nothing compared to the ability of God to give. I have asked for a cupful, and the ocean remains. I have asked for a sunbeam, and the sun abides. My best asking falls immeasurably short of my Father’s giving. It is beyond all the we can ask.”
Lets expect more from life by expecting more from God!