Over the past few days I have come to realize on a deeper level, how much we rely on our human expectations.
While at work, a co-worker became angry with me because I didn’t meet her expectations. She relied on me to handle a difficult situation that was her responsibility. Normally, I would have, but this time I decided that I did not want to cover her and she was disappointed.
It was an amazing sight to see her react with such anger. Especially since I consider her a friend.
Later, I was at a festival that had an artist doing caricature portraits. I was enjoying the event immensely, and wanted a souvenir for my family that would last. While waiting patiently for 30 minutes while he finished up his last customer, another family skipped ahead of us in line. When I protested, the artist advocated for them and said that they were actually next.
I expected him to be fair, and he wasn’t. It was embarrassing, disappointing, and put a mark on my previously enjoyable day.
My co-worker expected me to be her advocate and I wasn’t.
I expected the artist to be my advocate and he wasn’t.
Both situations caused hurt, anger, and disappointment.
When we rely on mankind to be our advocates, we will always be disappointed. It’s really not that people don’t care, but that their priorities and agendas are simply not in line with what we desire at that time.
When we determine to rely on Christ alone as our advocate, He will never disappoint. We become peaceful in our hearts, knowing that He sees our motives, needs, and desires, and that if they line up with His will, He will provide for them regardless of our circumstances.
My coworker didn’t realize that I had just handled an extremely difficult call and was emotionally drained from it. I simply did not have the required patience to handle another difficult situation.
I may not have been aware that there may have been an arrangement with the family that went ahead of us in line that was made with the artist prior to our arrival.
But Christ sees all.
So, let us rely on Him. It is not that we should wall ourselves off from others, but that our complete trust is on the One who holds the world in His hands.
Psalm 55:22 New International Version (NIV)
22 Cast your cares on the Lord
and he will sustain you;
he will never let
the righteous be shaken.
Faithfully Fit 