At The Intersection Of Expectation And Disappointment

“When John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’ And Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.’” [1]

Who among us will be honest enough to admit that more times than you can count, you have stood at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment? You had your life mapped out, but somehow things didn’t turn out as you had planned. You thought everything was going swimmingly, but then there came that day when the doctor told you that you needed an urgent surgery if you were to survive. Your life was transformed by the new reality and your dreams died that day. The surgery would mean long weeks of being in bed and weeks of therapy after the surgery. It meant pain—intense, constant pain whether you had the surgery or not. You were standing at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment.

You were more qualified than another candidate, but they got the job that should have been yours. Now you are forced to work under that very person. Someone who is less qualified than you is your supervisor, and that knowledge gnaws at your heart every day. That person frequently asks you how to do the job she was hired to do; she hasn’t any idea of what she was hired to do. You are at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment.

You thought that your marriage would last forever, only to see your spouse walk out. Your marriage crumbled, and you were left to pick up the pieces. Now, you work multiple jobs at an income that is never quite enough, and you struggle to raise your children without the help of your husband. You’ve cried enough tears to fill an ocean and you wonder if your children will ever fully recover from the devastation they have experienced. Still, you realise that you’re the only person left standing between your children and self-destruction. You are standing at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment.

You thought you were set to enjoy your golden years but changing markets have forced you to scramble in order to survive. Retirement! Ha! You’re working more now than ever. You had hoped to take life easy, but now you’re working just to make ends meet. You set aside what you thought would be needed, but somehow it hasn’t proven to be enough. Those who eat up what we have seem to multiply and what you have to survive on is proving to be inadequate.

You didn’t expect to be forced to care for ageing parents, but someone has to sacrifice so that your mother or your father can have the care they need. Modern medicine is a two-edged sword, extending our lives but imposing new necessities on our children. Thus, you are saddled with the privilege of caring for your parents at the time when you know you should be preparing for your own future. You stand at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment.

You hoped that those you loved, people to whom you had long ministered, would support you and stand with you in your hour of need as you were assailed by people without conscience. However, you found it necessary to walk away, though the disappointment eroded your soul. You are standing at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment.

If we could only know what God has planned for us, we could perhaps be courageous. We can’t know what God will be doing, and so we feel that we must grapple with a dark unknown rather than walking with confidence through our chaotic situation. We are too “Christian” to admit that we sometimes struggle with doubt, but in our heart, we experience so very often times when we ask, “Is this really what life is all about?” At such times, we are standing at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment.

You’ve been praying, and no answer comes. You cannot help but wonder whether God hears you when you pray? Does God care about your struggles? Because the response of the Holy One seems non-existent, you find yourself questioning God; you’ve even found yourself asking, “Did Jesus really die for my sins? If I am forgiven, why am I having such a hard time? Why is there so much confusion in my life, if God is in control?” Confusion seems to grow constantly, and you can’t help but wonder why God seems to ignore you. It is almost as though He is unaware of who you are or what you are going through. You are standing at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment.