God grows joy in our hearts –
When our prayers turn out differently than our expectations, we must trust God. Resting in faith with God grows joy in our hearts replacing anxiety, worries, and distress.
At this moment, when I felt really down and incapable, just plain old broken, God whispered, “Be grateful right where you are because that is where I can use you.”
The day unfolded a few months into the new year, with the last brisk chill unfolding. I carefully brought the fern plant into the shelter underneath the deck as the temperature would drop to 20 degrees that night. My cheeks flushed as I thought about how some of my invested plans, prayers, hopes, and dreams differed from what I expected. Then I realized I wasn’t trusting that God knew what He was doing. At this moment, when I felt really down and incapable, just plain old broken, God whispered, “Be grateful right where you are because that is where I can use you.”
Joy blossoms in my heart –
Wow, isn’t that something? God brought me right where I needed to be – yet all I could do was muster up some good old-fashioned self-pity of why I didn’t get this, or why that didn’t happen, or maybe it’s because I’m not good enough. But it’s none of that. It is because God needs me to be humble and dependent on Him. To get out of my way to do His way. And I am so grateful that He loves me enough to show me the way to be with Him. Joy blossoms in my heart.
Do we trust?
The problem is that I can feel upset, depressed, left out, unqualified, and unloved when my prayers turn differently than my expectations. Do you feel this way too? Are we missing out on God’s joy?
When our prayer turns out differently than our expectation, we must trust God in this because He is not finished with our best. We have every reason to trust Him even when our prayers are answered differently than our expectations.
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV
Therefore, we need to let go of our expectations. Give them to God. He knows our hopes and dreams. And He knows the best way to get there. Our job is to trust Him. And not stop our best by limited expectations. God hears our prayers and proceeds with the most incredible plan because our unanswered prayer or unmet expectation isn’t finished yet.
Our expectations are unrealistic markers that hold no course with the ultimate plan of Almighty God.
Let the supernatural power of God fill you, lean on Him and all that you do point to Him. Joy will grow in your heart replacing anxiety, worry, and distress.
God is with us –
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Roman 15:13 KKJV
God is with us in our battles, times of unfairness, and the treachery of spiritual warfare. Most importantly, God works in the here and now, behind the scenes, and ahead of us. God smoothest our paths, plans our victories, opens our doors, dries our tears, and transforms and sculpts us by adversities and trials into the precious creations we are – giving the cherished gift of joy. Therefore, we can trust and rest in faith with God.
God says, “Be grateful right where you are because that is where I can use you.”
Come to God in prayer and supplication, confessing your worries, and He will give you the peace of Jesus, which surpasses all understanding. This revelation of peace guards our hearts against worrying, inviting us to a life of faithful joy.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 KJV
What will you do?
Are you willing to let go of the expectations of your prayers, dreams, and plans? Trust that the Holy Father has got this? God hears your prayers and proceeds with the most awesome plan for you because your unanswered prayer or unmet expectation isn’t finished yet.
Our Father sweeps us back into His arms when we become lost as a shepherd cradles the wayward lamb. Comforting and soothing, the Holy Father is with each of us. You have every reason to trust God; even you’re your expectations turn out differently than your prayers.
Calm in the Peace –
What would it be like if we all trusted God with our prayers, dreams, and expectations? To know that God has our best interest and our back. See fulfilled believers trusting the Holy Father with voices of praise. Can you imagine the songs of worship bringing tears to our eyes?
The sweet love of God is like nothing else. Although yesterday, we may have been scattered in a myriad of emotions, today, we are calm in the peace and joy of Jesus. Being grateful right where we are is key because that is where God can use us – humbled and broken and, most importantly, trusting.
Humble prayer –
Good morning, Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your tender loving kindness. Your light, love, and forgiveness when I become lost. But you are so kind to sweep me back into your arms. Forgive me, Father, if I have become reactive to my unmet expectations. I trust that you have better things for me than I can ever imagine. So, I will continue to serve you, to show up each day and be the daughter you made me be. I know you are transforming my life into such beauty that I cannot even imagine. I rest in faith as you grow joy in my heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Oh Deborah, I feel like you wrote this for me. It’s so easy for me to get caught up in all the things I have done or should be doing that I totally miss the joy, peace or message that God is giving to me. I need a daily (ok maybe hourly) reminder to be still and know that He is God.
Oh me too my friend! God is so faithful with His joy!
This is so beautiful and exactly what God has been speaking to me about lately. Thank you for this wonderful encouragement today!
Patti, I am so happy that this encouraged you. It’s wonderful how God speaks to us letting us know just where to be. Thank you for stopping by.
The Joy of the Lord is our strength. Beautiful prayer indeed Deborah. Blessings to you and yours.
Yes it is! Thank you Desiray – have a beautiful day!
Hi Deborah! My word for the year is rest. And not physical rest. Resting and trusting in the Lord. So I couldn’t wait to read this when I saw your title on the inspire me Monday link up. Thank you! I also want to invite you to link up on Fridays with Grace and Truth at laurensparks.net.
Lauren, thank you for stopping by and your invite – I will link up on Friday! I love “resting and trusting in the Lord.” Blessings & Rest.
It’s so very easy to get wrapped up in our own plans. Right now, God is stretching me and asking me to wait to see what he works out. I can make plans, but I can’t hold them tightly. I have to trust that his way is the best way–even if I don’t understand it!
Anita, that is a wonderful way to look at it – “God is stretching me and asking me to wait to see what he works out.” God’s way is the best! Thank you!
Yes indeed, we must learn to appreciate and accept our brokenness because from no other place can we serve as well.
Thank you for your encouragement. Blessings to you.
Oh, yes! Even when our expectations are seemingly not met, “…we have every reason to trust God.”
Powerful words!
Debbie, thank you! Blessings to you!
Faith and trust are so intimately connected, aren’t they? I appreciate how you encouraged us to release our expectations to Him, Deborah, “Our expectations are unrealistic markers that hold no course with the ultimate plans of God Almighty.” Powerful words!
Lisa, thank you reading and your kind words. Our God is so faithful!
Truly His ways are not ours, and His thoughts are higher than ours. I think part of the purpose of prayer, especially when prayer seems unanswered or not answered in the way or time we hoped, is to help conform us to His image and thinking.
Barbara, thank you for your insight here in the purpose of prayer to conform us to His image and thinking.
Deborah, I really enjoyed this. All your points for gaining trust and joy in our faith are so good. I agree, our expectations are unrealistic compared to the plans of Almighty God.
Karen, thank you for reading and happy you enjoyed. God’s joy is the best.
So glad you linked this at the Grace & Truth linkup last week. This will be the featured post for the linkup on my blog this Friday. It fits hand-in-glove with what I was already writing about my own expectations (in my case, unrealistic expectations). I’m grateful the Lord is with us when we get yes’s to our prayers as well as the no’s!
Lisa, thank you so much! I am so grateful too as He knows best. See you Friday!