By Pastor Sharon Willimas from Women Alive February 2024
“They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.”
Hope -A desire for something to happen. I want it to happen.
I hope so….(I hope I get a raise, I hope my kids will be good, I hope today is a good day.
Hope is the assessment of the most desirable outcome. Best case scenario (expands vision)
This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.”
Hope is our anchor. Hope leads us into God’s presence
Hebrews 6:19 amp
“Now, we have this hope as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul (it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out upon it... hope) that reaches farther and enters into the very certainty of the Presence within the veil.”
Hope – faith is the substance of things hoped for.
Romans 15:13
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Expectations-
Story hotel crackers
A man staying in a fancy hotel wasn’t feeling quite right so he ordered crackers from room service to settle his stomach. The crackers arrived and as he was eating the crackers he looked at the bill to see how expensive the crackers would be and saw $11.27. He immediately called the front desk to complain. $11.27 crackers is outrageous! He told the desk clerk. The response he received from the front desk was, sir, I believe you are complaining about your room number 1127.
Expectations- he believed the worst and expected the room service to be expensive. He jumped to the conclusion before examining it more closely.
Disappointment is unfulfilled expectations
Expect-assume
Rooted in our need/desire
Something you think will happen (good or bad)
The most likely outcome as you see it
Expect my husband to have lunch ready when I get home
Expect my friends to empathize with my struggle
Expect God to clean up my mess
Expectations and being prepared are not the same. What if….
Expectation puts boundaries around the idea. This will be the outcome.
Hope to leave the outcome with the Lord, however, He does it, will be the best.
Hope more expect less
The degree of surety of an event is the difference between hope and expectation.
How sure are you of the outcome?
Proverbs 19:21
“Many are the plans in the mind of man/woman but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”
Hold our expectations low and our hopes high. Hope in God. Let go of control, and stop the thought process of the worst-case scenario.
Believe the best, prepare for the worst (what a terrible way to live), and be double-minded. Actions speak. What do your actions say?
What changes do you need to make today to change expectations into hope?
God is inviting you into miracle territory, filled with hope. He has supernatural provision for you. Stretch your faith, and hope for the impossible, that’s where God lives.
Let go of your expectations!
Join us every first Saturday of the month at 10:00 AM in Jacksonville Florida for Women Alive Worship. Stay updated by following Women Alive on social media. Contact www.act4thenations.com for more information about the ministry.
About the Author
Pastor Sharon has been in ministry for over 48 years. She and her husband Daniel are founders of Go to Nations, a missionary sending agency working in 106 countries. As an ordained minister, Sharon was a part of the Christ the Redeemer Church Executive staff for twenty years. In 2010, Sharon began Act 4 the Nations, a non-profit organization working on five continents to help women attain a better way of life by partnering with missionaries and Anti-Human Trafficking organizations.
Sharon is the author of two books, Catching Minnows and Chief Women Arise!
Catching Minnows book available on Amazon at:
Chief Women Arise book available on Amazon at:
For more information about Act 4 the Nations, visit: www.act4nations.com.
For speaking engagements email: sharon@act4nations.com