Expect Nothing

Self evaluation is a good thing. Many times in life we need to evaluate our values, our principles and our faith. Sometimes we are challenged to doubt who we really are or what we believe either by circumstance or other peoples influence. I was challenged this week through conversations. I was challenged to evaluate myself.

Expect Nothing, that is the phrase that triggered it. Sometimes I wonder if I expect too much. I wonder if wanting others to give it there all is expecting too much, if wanting for people to be principled is expecting too much. We all fall short from perfection. I have dug myself from very dark places and have been sidetracked or "weak" many times. No one walks a perfect line, everyone has flaws. But we should always strive to be better, correct our mistakes, challenge ourselves to be greater human beings. Today I heard someone say that we should 'expect nothing' and this way we would be in a better place to receive or understand when things don't turn out just like we expect it or when people or life let us down. Expecting nothing in order to avoid pain, disappointment or acceptance of failure is a pessimistic and faithless way of thinking. Does God expect nothing from us? Did Jesus, whether you now Him as the son of God, Savior or simply a man of great influence, expect nothing from His people or His disciples?

Do teachers expect nothing from their students or do they expect them to give it their best? doesn't a teacher hope for her students to always strive for an A?  Doesn't a good teacher expect her students to be in their best behavior? Doesn't a great teacher want their student to be successful in all that they do? Of course a caring, dedicated, passionate teacher expects the best from his/her students. Of course she/he does not go into the classroom saying or thinking that they expect nothing from their students this way when a student does well it will be more exciting. Or when a student does bad if you expect nothing from the beginning it will probably hurt less or not bother you at all. 

Jesus had expectations for His disciples and followers. He came to teach them principle, the power of God to save and gave them commandments on how to pray, to be obedient and to be faithful. Most importantly, He  expected us to love each other "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." (Jhn 13:34).

Although our creator God knows us from the day we where conceived to the day we die, when we where created He gave us free will. He gave us the ability to choose whether to have faith or not, but He did it expecting the best, expecting us to choose right, to choose love, to choose principle and to seek truth. He did not create us expecting nothing so that He would not be disappointed if we decided to do the opposite. The word of God teaches to us encourage and expect great things from others and from ourselves but to know that it is God's place not ours to work with the person or the situation when faced with obstacles. We should not seek self fulfilling expectations, convenient interpretations or rules. When it is time to evaluate our self we should do so by seeking the principle and the truth that God our creator has put in place for us through His word.

Romans 8:24–25 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Matthew 7:7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

Peace and Love to all of you my dear friends,

Ivis M.