When you hear the word “expectations” what comes to mind? Excitement, or anxiety? Possibilities, or pressure? I heard a young girl say she wasn’t sure she wanted to play a sport because too many people were expecting great things from her. She’s a great athlete, but her skills are still developing, and now because of the expectations of others she fears failure. We can experience this as adults as well: you’re hired for a new job and people expect great things; you’re a new mom and people expect you to know what to do; you’re facing a serious illness and people expect you to be a great witness—how will you respond?
From the book Jesus Calling, “Find freedom through seeking to please Me above all else. You can have only one Master. When you let others’ expectations drive you, you scatter your energy to the winds.” Isn’t that the truth! When we desire to live for Him, everything else falls into place. When we keep our eyes on Jesus, our anxiety over what others expect falls away. High expectations can be a good thing—a motivation to accomplish God’s best—as long as we stay focused on the One who allows us to live expectantly!
– Kim Hendrix