Devotional from Pastor Tim Chalas

Expectations can weigh us down more than we realize. Whether we place them on ourselves, on others, or even on God, they often lead to frustration and disappointment. Expectations strangle relationships because we were never designed to live out of duty but desire. That’s why the gospel is such good news: God has no expectations of you.

That may sound surprising, but it makes perfect sense if He is all-knowing. He’s not sitting on the edge of His throne, expecting something different than what will happen. He’s not waiting to see how you’ll perform. He knows you completely. He’s never shocked or let down by your failures. He’s never disappointed, because disappointment only comes when expectations aren’t met, but He already knows everything. He has no expectations of you, but He does have desires for you! He wants you to know His love!

His desires for you are rooted in relationship, not requirements. And when we begin to understand that, the pressure lifts as we find that trusting His love, not trying to perform for it, is freedom.  

Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.—Psalm 37:4

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