6. expectations
story
I felt sick in the stomach as I checked the news, wondering what I should do. Maybe I should sleep on it, it's not much point worrying now about tomorrow. Things could change overnight.
As I felt the light streaming through the windows the next morning, I immediately grabbed for my phone. "Is the lesson still on?" I asked, secretly hoping that the answer would be a no. "Yes, we've already had a beginner surf group out there, and the lifeguards haven't closed the beach".
Just 2 weeks ago, I'd gone out and I was quite scared, after being dunked a few times underwater and swallowing a bit of salt water. Truth be told, there were a few moments where I was close to calling it quits. Perhaps it was my pride that kept me out there, as the group of surfers who were in my surf group lesson had far less experience than me.
"Fear not, for I am with you" were the words that came to mind as I spent time in silence with God that morning.
On my drive to the beach, I was secretly hoping that they would close down the beach. Surely they wouldn't take beginners out there with such a big swell from the recent cyclone - the forecast showed 10 foot waves and my comfort zone was a mere 2-3 foot. I showed up to the meeting spot, still undecided whether I would head out in the surf or simply be a spectator. It seemed like I wasn't the only one afraid about the size of the waves that day.
“Remember, today is not about catching waves. It’s about building your confidence.”
devotional
I wonder whether sometimes we might approach our time with God with misguided expectations. When we meet him, we expect something immediate to happen every time.
When we dedicate time to be still and silent, we expect him to speak directly to us all the time. When we pray, we want an answer before we say Amen. We expect a huge revelation every time we open and read God's word. And when nothing seemingly happens, we think it was a waste of time and pointless. Yes, I do believe there are instances where miracles do and can happen, but generally, the process of being formed into the image of Christ is a slow and long one.
James Houston, a Regent College professor (who is now 102!) describes spiritual formation as "the slowest of all human movements."
I really appreciated how my surf teacher started the lesson by reframing the purpose and setting the expectation of the surf session on that particular day. Sometimes it's not about how many waves you can catch. By showing up, gaining experience, and building confidence, one session at a time over a period of time, my surfing skills will improve.
Today, we're obsessed with the quick fix and expect immediate results with everything we do. We want an instantaneous outcome—an obvious transformation to happen in a microwave minute. We are willing to pay more to get our online purchases delivered the next day. Surrounded by this culture, do we subconsciously think that if we find the right devotional, the right Bible passage, the right mentor to go to, the right spiritual tool, we should get an instant result from God?
Have we placed unrealistic expectations of our time with God?
I wonder if we feel the same as David did in Psalm 84:10 "For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness." David tasted the fullness of joy in the presence of God (Psalm 16:11 The Passion Translation TPT).
In Genesis 15:1 (TPT), the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision and told him not to fear, for God was his faithful shield and abundant reward.
What if...
Simply being in God’s presence is enough.
Feeling the warmth of his love
Knowing He desires and wants to be with you
Every moment of the day.
What if...
It is about being with God
Communing with Him
Being still
And receiving the gift of his presence
quote
Instead of a quote, I've included something different for us to listen to, based on the passage from Psalm 84:10 listed above.
CXMMXNS, Kory Miller, Ben Fi...
question
When is the last time you lingered in God's presence?
prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I need you.
Without you I am nothing.
Thank you for your promise to come close to me as I draw close to you.
Shape me Lord to enjoy dwelling with you daily.
Thank you for your love, shown to me every day by your presence.
Amen
Have a great week.
Love,
p.s. For those of you wondering, I did go out surfing and caught one of the biggest waves. If you're interested, here's a video of it.