Naive Expectations

Posted on Aug 15, 2016 Topic : Weekly Devotionals

He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.” He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.” PSALM 10:6

There’s no such thing as a trouble-free life. To think otherwise is naive, presumptuous, and proud. Pride does this. It instills false confidence and unrealistic expectations. A man thinks himself immutable and omnipotent to conclude he’ll always be free from adversity. Jesus said just the opposite. He taught that we’re not of this world, therefore the world will hate us. This is not an invitation to a life of ease, but a guarantee of conflict. The naive pronounce an out-of-control optimism not based in reality. There’s no way to totally shield ourselves from pain.

An opulent home or outrageous bank account can never keep us from suffering. Wealth sets us up for disappointment. Boasts are not buttresses, and self-confidence is a sorry security. Our confidence is in Christ, not in our ever-changing life of uncertainty. He is immovable and immutable. We vacillate. We change. We struggle, doubt, and fear. When life happens and the bottom falls out, we have a solid foundation in our Savior. He sustains us!

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“Pride goes before destruction,a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).

Pride, on the other hand, brews naive expectations. This is the ruin of fools. When they succeed, their confidence bloats out of control. There needs to be a dose of humility that brings them back into the realities of everyday life. Engagement in the lives of others leads us to a more fulfilling life. Our success sets us up to serve others. To give back is to govern like God. This is what He expects. Godly expectations lead us down the road of service and selflessness.

So instead of insulating our lives from danger and risk, we follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. We ask, what does God think? Will this opportunity contribute to my spiritual growth? How does my spouse weigh in? What’s best for my family? What will give me the most leverage for the Lord? We seek to align our expectations with eternity. It’s a continual process of dying to ourselves and coming alive for the Lord. We should not expect a life of ease, but a life of obedience.

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“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived”

(2 Timothy 3:12-13).