great expectations.

How many times does a child need to hear something before they can understand and follow what they’re being told for the first time? Depending on their age, maybe once? Twice? Ten times? One hundred times?

I’m sure everyone has a different answer to that question based on their own experience with children, or lack thereof, and likely some funny stories to pair with their answers. But the bottom line is that there isn’t a single child that can fully understand a single word after saying it once. Everyone can agree to that fact.

No infant will immediately respond to hearing from anyone “please stop crying” or “give me a smile” after a single attempt. We can apply that to every single new thing that a child learns: where to find their eyes, how to walk, how to ask for something, wait for someone’s hand to hold when crossing the street, laying down and going to sleep, the list goes on and on.

Isn’t it funny that we don’t expect anyone (who are young enough) to do any of these on a first attempt,

but yet we do expect everyone to know or do so many things near-automatically after a single – or even no – piece of direction. We can place these expectations on others, ourselves, and even on God himself!

              … to provide anything needed (or wanted) at a moment’s notice.

              … to have (and give) every answer.

              … to be where needed, when needed, without question.

              … to never miss a beat.

              … to understand everything, always.

We can have the expectation of others to not make a single mistake after receiving a request. On another level, we can have an expectation to be given a complete rollout of the master plan and purpose for our lives after receiving a revealed piece of the Master’s plan for us in a single moment.

But isn’t that such an impossibility? We create such great expectations – impossible expectations – that we choose to place on ourselves and others around us that create a completely impossibility.  So much of this can come from a desire to succeed, to please or meet expectations, and even to create a (false) perception of perfection.

Here’s the thing.

In a parable Jesus taught (in Matthew 25), the master commended his servants “well done, good and faithful servant” to the servants who were wise with the talents they were given. While this parable teaches us we should not hide our talents, but instead make gains on them, the master still does not use the words perfect or successful to commend or applaud his servants who did gain more talents. He did not say “well done, good and successful servant” or “well done good and perfect servant.” He used the word faithful.

When we don’t have all the answers we want. When we don’t see the complete picture. When things or people don’t meet our impossible expectations. When all seems lost. When nothing makes sense. When we can’t see two feet in front of us. When we are at our lowest low, or at our highest high. We are called to be faithful. Faithful to our Master.

Not successful. Not perfect. Faithful.

What has God called you to be faithful to?

Is there anything that is hindering you from being faithful to what He has called you to right now?

Ask the Spirit of God to reveal anything He’s calling you to right now, and anything that is preventing you from following and obeying his direction.