Did you ever have high expectations for something only to be a bit disappointed once you reached the goal or acquired whatever it was you were expecting? Did you find a blessing in it anyways??
I have....and the Scriptures I was meditating on before church this morning, reminded me of an expectation I had once when I went hiking with my sister Hope, and my friend Dorrae. And when I was reading the verses, I was reminiscing about that hike and the "great expectations" that we had.
Basically, the hike was a deep woods walk in a part of the southern Adirondacks that is quite isolated. By isolated I mean there are few people/houses (mostly camps) and no village or town for miles. Just forest. The Silver Lake Wilderness Forest of that region of the ADKs. The hike was along part of the famous "Northville-Placid Trail" and our goal was to go about 2 miles in, to a spot on the West Stony Creek that had a waterfalls.
It was a hot, but pleasant, July day during Independence Day weekend. My husband and daughters were at home as they had something to do later that day. I drove from our home with my friend Dorrae and picked up my sister at her house on the way to the trailhead. We started hiking along, enjoying each other's company and looking forward to eating lunch and soaking our feet by the waterfalls.
This is what we expected (or at least what I expected..the picture I had in my mind)
We only saw a couple of other hikers who were actually attempting the N-P Trail so they were moving along quickly. For most of the hike it was just the 3 of us.
We arrived at the wooden footbridge where the waterfall was supposed to be. There were the rocks. But where was the waterfall?? We began to laugh our heads off because yes, there was a waterfall....but it was a trickle!!
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| the West Stony Creek July 2006 c. faithe MTPics 2006 |
It was still pretty, relaxing, and serene but the expectation I had of a more "roaring" wooded falls left me with a bit of a disappointed feeling. I re-read the trail book and realized that because it was July and not May, we weren't seeing the snow-melt/run-off waters. What we were seeing was a pretty, little creek with a very small tumble of water over gorgeous rocks. (I couldn't find the picture I took of the "falls" but the trickle of water over rocks is to the right in the pic above, just past the tree that is sticking out over the center of the pic) A trickle compared to what our minds had conjured up!
"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever." Hebrews 6:19 & 20
It reminds me of this: sometimes life doesn't turn out the way you expect. Sometimes a situation, or a person, or an event, or a place, doesn't turn out the way you expected it to....it might be better or it might be worse! But...no matter what the outcome, we can have the assurance that God is our anchor.
We can place our hope in Him....He will not disappoint us! With Jesus, we will have a hopeful end!! We are to grab ahold of that anchor....place our hope in Him...and He promises us a future with Him!!
Yes...we sat on the rocks and put our hot, tired feet in the cool, clear water. Yes, it felt good. No, we didn't have the pleasure of sitting near a tumbling, roaring falls. Yet...God was there. He was there in our fellowship, in the glorious, wooded setting, and in our hearts.
We can place our hope in Him....He will not disappoint us! With Jesus, we will have a hopeful end!! We are to grab ahold of that anchor....place our hope in Him...and He promises us a future with Him!!
Yes...we sat on the rocks and put our hot, tired feet in the cool, clear water. Yes, it felt good. No, we didn't have the pleasure of sitting near a tumbling, roaring falls. Yet...God was there. He was there in our fellowship, in the glorious, wooded setting, and in our hearts.
The expectation I had placed on seeing a large, tumbling waterfall, was replaced by the peace that comes with being with fellow hikers, out in the quiet woods, enjoying food and fellowship together, being united in Christ.
And those things...those perfect gifts from Him: family, friends, fellowship....are tangible things I can lay a hold of, and hope for.....and expect.
Spiritually, I can place my hope in the One who is Hope....This hope in God is like an anchor for our soul....an "anchor" is a hold. God promises us that He is there....and that hope is the hold! I can expect the blessing of heaven someday......that is a promise: a future with Him!!
and that is a great expectation!!
And those things...those perfect gifts from Him: family, friends, fellowship....are tangible things I can lay a hold of, and hope for.....and expect.
Spiritually, I can place my hope in the One who is Hope....This hope in God is like an anchor for our soul....an "anchor" is a hold. God promises us that He is there....and that hope is the hold! I can expect the blessing of heaven someday......that is a promise: a future with Him!!
and that is a great expectation!!
6 comments:
I love this, Faith!! I (way too often) have expectations and things usually don't turn out the way I thought (expected). But I love when God shows us what HE had planned all along. I think expectations like that go along with worry, don't you?
Hey Mel!! I am SOOO glad to welcome you to Gold in the Clouds...and so glad you are now a blogger...now we just gotta get your mom to do it :)
Yes, the worry thing IS alot like that...I worry way less these days than I did in my 20's...I've just learned to let God lead the way (altho sometimes I do get a little anxious about things...this is why I journal and pray with friends!). GOd is GOOD!!!! welcome to the blogosphere!!
This is good advice when tempted to have expectation of husbands or friends!!!
Sometimes the reverse happens - I once went on a hike to see a waterfall, not a particularly well known one, so I didn't expect much. But it was May and the run off was peak - and I got a really special treat! I still get shivers remembering the sight that met my amazed eyes! The entire hillside was a waterfall; there was too much water for the regular watercourse and it had divided into four or five other falls! And sometimes, when least expected, our family or friends pull the same surprising treat with us. the key is: when you least expect it - and therefore God gets all the more glory.
AMEN! littlewomen....Thanks for visiting...always enjoy your blog and your comments! :)
I've actually been thinking a lot about unrealistic expectations the past few days...so I may blog on it myself soon. Your post is excellent. We need to bank all our expectations on the Lord--he is the only solid rock and the anchor for our soul! Thanks for sharing this, Faith!
Lisa, thanks!! Just some stuff i was meditating on....always good to have these reminders, right??
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