New Years Expectations? {& a Free Printable}

Last week did not go as expected.

Instead of singing our merry way to Christmas, we were rushing our lab into emergency surgery for an “abdominal obstruction” and disinfecting the house (times three) from the stomach bug.

Merry Christmas to us.

My Great Expectation

The definition of expectation is, “a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future”.

I’ve lived long enough to be disappointed by my expectations. I bet you have too. People disappoint us. Life doesn’t always work out the way we think it should. Isn’t it safer to have no expectations at all?

I’ve thought that way for a long time. No expectations = no disappointments.

That is until I had a greater understanding of this verse:

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone. My hope is found in Him. Psalm 62:5

The Hebrew word for hope is defined as, “hope, expectation or thing longed for”. David, the writer of this Psalm, set his hope (his expectation, that which he longed for) in the Lord.

And I think he was on to something.

Think about it: David placed his hope in the only one who is immovable. Unshakable. Unchanging. His expectation rested in the only one who could never fail, forsake or abandon him. He longed for the only one who can truly satisfy – the One who promises to give abundantly more that we can ask or imagine.

David’s expectation was on the Lord.

New Years Expectations

I’ve been working hard to adjust my expectations to follow David’s lead. It’s been a little like two steps forward, one step back. But as I’ve turned my hope more and more towards Jesus, He has proven Himself faithful. I know now that I can fully depend on the character of my God. He will never fail me. I have a confident hope that His promises are true. And when I go into a situation expecting grace, I find it every time.

Before the turn of the New Year, I plan to sit down and write out some big goals for 2017. I will prayerfully think through each of these areas of my life, asking God how I can steward them well:

• Spiritual
• Physical
• Family
• Social
• Work

But as I dream ahead, I will lock my gaze – my hope – my great expectation on the Lord.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

A Free Printable

Finally, I made this little one-pager last year that I wanted to share with you. It was a fun, guided way to look back on the year gone by, as well as look ahead to the coming year. Print yourself a copy, find a quiet corner of your day and have fun with it.

Download your free copy HERE.

I would love to continue this conversation with you. Simply hit respond to this email or comment below. Here are some questions to consider:

1. How often are you disappointed by your own expectations?
2. Have you ever considered that those expectations may be wrongly placed?
3. What does it mean to you to place your hope/expectation in the Lord?

Happy New Years, friends. Cheering you on 2017!