Expectations & Outcomes

In Matthew 16:21 we read, “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

The longer I walk with Christ and serve in ministry the more I'm convinced our expectations and outcomes are a plague. They are the plague of self-imposed disappointment, defeat, and depression in this life. Often, the things we project and eagerly anticipate are the very things Jesus must wrestle, dislodge, topple, or depose in order to have His way with us.

Peter’s response to Jesus ministry and mission was, "Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!"

We, like Peter, often miss the point because we draw our own dim conclusions, fabricate our own fantastic expectations, and project our own pious outcomes - all false idols our Lord must topple in our lives so we may live.

On the surface, the things we want, expect, and shoot for regarding relationship with Jesus sound incredibly spiritual and majestic. In reality, they frequently oppose the very plan and will of God.

So where are you frustrated in life? Where are you worried? Where does anxiety reign rather than peace? Those are the very areas where you have said to Christ, “Never, Lord! This shall never happen!” His rebuke to us is the same as it was to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns."

Maybe it's the fear of losing custody of our kids, of declining health, of time management issues, of financial problems, career goals, or relationship problems. To all of these Jesus compassionately responds, “...merely human concerns.” Then we rebuke Jesus, saying, "Oh yeah! But they're MY CONCERNS!"

Turns out, that's the whole problem. Scripture tells us, “Cast all your anxiety on him (Jesus) because he cares for you.”

The Bible does not tell us to pray our anxieties out to Jesus. We are to throw them, heave, chuck, sling, launch, catapult, and eject 'em upon Him “because He cares for you!”

Praying anxieties is not the same as CASTING them upon Christ. Take those things that are frustrating, worrying, and causing anxiety - and CAST them upon the LORD. After you cast them, wipe your hands clean, then get busy with the Lord's work. What work? "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

If you're not sure what that means or what that looks like, then you should get involved in a strong local evangelical Christian church. If you want to know what that looks like, visit poetrybaptist.com online. Better yet, come visit us in person! 19311 FM 986 in Terrell, Texas.

The point Jesus made is that we allow our expectations and outcomes to get in the way of Kingdom business. Jesus wants us to stop dwelling upon human concerns and focus on the imperatives He commanded. Love God and people. Get involved and invested in the local church. Serve the Bride of Christ. Disciple.

You cannot be simultaneously focused on the Kingdom of Heaven and upon the troubles of this world. That's like trying to look at the ground and the stars at the same time. Stop with the detrimental expectations and debilitating expectations.

Cast your fears, frustrations, worry, and anxieties upon Him.

Be faithful to what God has given you today. With simple obedience that flows freely from authentic faith -or- riddled with anxiety flowing from your own expectations and outcomes?

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

-2 Corinthians 3:18

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley
aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com