Reality collided with my expectations! God intervened in a way I could never have expected.
It was August 19th that I went to Gospel Fusion (GF) for the third time. [Gospel Fusion is a home group through the singles ministry at Scottsdale Bible Church.] I was cautious upon arrival; after all, I had been so hurt by “Christians” in the past nine months and some of them attended this very home group. In retrospect, this night at Gospel Fusion, God had a plan much greater than I could have ever imagined, despite my hesitant heart and “expectations”.
This night at Gospel Fusion was a turning point for me. God took my expectations and blew them right out of the water. Occasionally at GF they have someone share how they came to Christ. There was a new guy in the group, I didn’t know who he was but what he shared – I will never forget – ever! I walked away remember nothing from the Philippians study that took place later in the evening but I still remember Dan’s testimony.
I was a dry sponge walking into the house that night.
I walked out sopping wet and overflowing.
I was challenged to think differently, to believe differently.
I was challenged to LIVE differently!
It was all I thought about for the next 24hrs,
Dan’s testimony and comments.
  • How he too had wandered from the Truth and associating to “friends” who had no concern for one another and “sharpening” each other according to Word and what was pleasing to God.
  • How he was saying he was a “Christian” but not living out what the Bible says is righteous.
Oh how much I could relate.
I have chewed over and over his testimony from that night in August. I have spent hours processing the thoughts we have exchanged in conversation since. Some of my thoughts; you know those ones we all have and can’t come up with an answer to; mine all fall on my expectations. I realized this issue with expectations in the midst of getting my Divemaster Certification. How in heaven’s name was God using SCUBA to teach me an amazing spiritual parallel is beyond me?! But I am thankful.
Expectations. We all have them.
We have them in churches.
We have them of people.
We have them of the Pastor.
Even of the music and the guy who gives the announcements.
People have expectations. We are IMPERFECT humans who expect something from everyone and anyone. And we ALL get our knickers in a knot when our expectations are less than desirable, failed and incomplete.
Every time I have expectations, I walk away with more heartache and hurt! Something did not go my way; I had an expectation and someone failed me. I seem to think my plan or way is somehow better.
In pursing my PADI Divemaster Certification, and the hope to become an Instructor –
God shattered MY expectations!
It’s not that God didn’t want me to have a joy in the amazing sport of SCUBA Diving.
Rather, God wants my JOY to come from HIM.
            For me to find my expectation in HIM.
In that, the surrender of MY expectations, He will give me JOY in things that please Him
but ONLY after I put HIM first.
I think of Colossians where God speaks of how HE is the one to be pleased and gloried above all else.
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
Colossians 1:16 ESV (emphasis mine; see verses 15-17 for context)
Dan and I spent time talking through his testimony and the similarities to our “paths” in life. It truly has been a blessing and encouragement to me; to look at where he’s come from to where Christ has brought him. That this awesome place he is in is completely possible for EVERY believer but it is a process.
Step 1: LET GO, of any and all expectations!!
As I am learning, this is ONLY something Christ can do. It is nothing we can do in and of ourselves.
One thing he said in his very first email to me is something I have chewed on over and over in my mind. I’ve been praying that I can understand this fully in my heart and live this out.
“I truly want everyone in our group to experience living for Christ, not because I think it is the right thing to do but because of [the] joy and assurance that comes from completely submitting to His will, and letting go of ours.”
The lack of joy and enthusiasm I felt as I drove home Thursday night was a direct result of my expectations being misdirected. I had expectations of reaching this professional level of diving; of becoming a Divemaster and what it would look and feel like, the type of job it would lead to and more. In the process of working towards that certification, God showed up and reminded me where my TRUE JOY should lie; in HIM and not in a diving cert!
In my freshman year of college, every time I saw Dr. Horn on campus he would come up to me and say “Dana, the JOY of the Lord is your strength.” For the first few times he did this, I’d look at him like he was crazy?! And he’d grin ear to ear like a mischievous toddler and skip away. A few months into this “game” I’d say it with him. “The joy of the Lord is my strength Dr. Horn.” And we’d laugh as he skipped away. I was still wondering if he was crazy?!
Fifteen years later, and I’m starting to get it, PRAISE GOD!
Only in the LORD, where my expectations are completely laid at HIS feet, will I ever find true JOY in my life!!
It’s not in my hobbies like Diving or my friends. It's not in the conversations with people like Dan either. It’s not in the name brand of clothes I wear or the type of car I drive. It is ONLY in the LORD that I will find LASTING JOY.
If for only this lesson, I am thankful that reality collided with my expectations!
To watch/listen to Dan’s testimony, click here.