In life, I often establish expectations for certain experiences. Those expectations are built on previous experience or on some hope or dream I have for the situation or experience. This means sometimes when those expectations are not met, it brings a level of disappointment and deep emotion. I once heard a person define expectation as \u201cplanned disappointment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the morning after the Sabbath on the weekend of Jesus\u2019 crucifixion, Mary Magdalene was headed to the tomb with the expectation that there would be a stone covering the tomb which would need to be moved (Mark 16:3). She also expected Jesus\u2019 body would be in the tomb in need of final preparations. Yet, what she expected, was not the reality!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The shock of the stone rolled away sent Mary to proclaim to the disciples the problem\u2014yes, in her mind at the time it was a problem. The conspiracy of the stone rolled away did not make sense and it did not meet her expectations. She started solving the problem as she ran to the disciples\u2014someone has surely taken his body, but where have they taken him?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When our reality does not meet our expectations, we tend to seek for answers. We may blame other people for not doing their part in meeting our expectations or we begin to limit our expectations in the future because we believe our expectations are too high. When Mary comes back to the tomb with two of the disciples, they confirm what she knew to be true: The Tomb is Empty. In her desire to solve the problem, she turns to the man whom she believes to be the gardener who asks her, \u201cWoman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?<\/em>\u201d (John 20:15). After Mary replies to him, Jesus calls her by name, \u201cMary!<\/em>\u201d She responds, \u201cRabbouni!<\/em>\u201d There is no longer a need to solve a problem because the reality far exceeds the expectation. She cannot fully comprehend what is happening, yet she knows her experience far outweighs her expectation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul speaks to our expectation when he writes in benediction to the first section of his letter to Ephesus, \u201cNow to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we ask or imagine<\/em>\u201d (Ephesians 3:20). Our expectations are often limited as to what God can and will do in our lives. God\u2019s plans are much larger than our plans. He invites us to follow Him; have faith in Him; and trust in Him to see where His plan will lead us. This will likely take us further and to new experiences we would have never considered in our own power and imagination. Mary was expecting death, but she found life. Mary was expecting grief, but she experienced joy. Mary was expecting confusion, but she found clarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What is it that you are expecting that is gloomy, empty, or confusing? What is it that God has in mind for your life that will move your expectation from frustration to transformation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you continue in this Easter Season, consider how your expectations are limiting what God wants to do in and through you. Lean into the reality of a God who makes the dead come to life and makes the despondent become hopeful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prayer: Lord, I don\u2019t want to limit your power with my earthly expectations. I want to experience life to its fullest, as you work your plan out in me. In Jesus\u2019 name. Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In life, I often establish expectations for certain experiences. Those expectations are built on previous experience or on some hope or dream I have for the situation or experience. This means sometimes when those expectations are not met, it brings<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6376,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6566","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t