Great Expectations

Lately, one of the questions that has dominated the landscape amid all of the health concerns has been, “what can we expect?” What can we expect if we get sick? What should we expect the next few weeks to look like? When can we expect life to return to normal? We all want to know what expectations we should have. The reality is, in this unprecedented pandemic, we can predict, but we cannot know for certain what to expect in these areas. 

“Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”

1 Peter 1:3b-7 NLT

This is the good news! In the midst of this unprecedented uncertainty, we can have great expectations. In the midst of bodily decay, we can have great expectations. In the throws of a great struggle, we can have great expectations. In sorrow, in pain, in disaster, in disappointment, in all of these, we can have great expectations. We can expect God to show up, to shore us up and we can refuse to give up. We can live expectant of greatness, because we serve a great God.

We may not know what to expect about our health, the economy, or even when normal schedules will resume, but we can expect great things from our great God.

Great are my expectations, Lord, because You have conquered all things. Amen.