I wouldn't remove expectations. Rather, detach from expectations. It's actually good to have certain expectations. It's called vision and hope. However, if one is too attached to those expectations, then when they don't come to pass, it will inevitably cause an emotional hit. So have expectations - but make them informed and rational - limit them with solid doses of reality - and pin your emotions to the things that you yourself can directly influence (how you live, act, etc).
Except do you notice what happens in good times? People stray from God.
They only turn to God when they want to ask things. When they feel hopeless for anything else.
If the End Times are getting closer, the only way to save as many souls as possible is to make them seek out God. And the world has to get a lot worse to maximize the amount of His children that will seek Him out.
again though. just pray for them to turn back to God. hold no expectations as to how that happens. the "how" is not your job to decide, so there's no point adding your own parameters to how God will work. Just allow grace to do its thing.
You're expecting that God will provide a positive outcome.
Meaning expectations are OK as long as they're in line with expecting God to do the right thing for us, answer prayers, etc.
I'm not finding fault with any of that; merely pointing out that you replaced one set of expectations with another that's more in line with your spiritual makeup. OK by me! First Amendment rules.
At 19 when I was in the military I came up with "Presuppose nothing, and you will not be disappointed." Sort of close to the same idea, without invoking God or assuming I know how he functions.
knowing prayers will be answered isn't an expectation! that's just how things work. for every one that asketh receiveth!
when you learn that, it might be tempting to ask for very specific things. but most often, your specific desires represent deeper unconscious desires, and those true desires are the prayers that will be answered.
when you get lost in your own specifics, you actually restrict the ways in which your prayers can be answered.
so yeah, dropping expectations doesn't mean losing faith. quite the opposite.
expecting negative outcomes is not sobriety. remove expectations entirely.
I like this point, although I would add a caveat.
I wouldn't remove expectations. Rather, detach from expectations. It's actually good to have certain expectations. It's called vision and hope. However, if one is too attached to those expectations, then when they don't come to pass, it will inevitably cause an emotional hit. So have expectations - but make them informed and rational - limit them with solid doses of reality - and pin your emotions to the things that you yourself can directly influence (how you live, act, etc).
nah. no expectations. whatever God provides will be more appropriate than whatever you had in mind.
every. single. time.
Except do you notice what happens in good times? People stray from God.
They only turn to God when they want to ask things. When they feel hopeless for anything else.
If the End Times are getting closer, the only way to save as many souls as possible is to make them seek out God. And the world has to get a lot worse to maximize the amount of His children that will seek Him out.
So as an old Army saying goes: Embrace the Suck.
again though. just pray for them to turn back to God. hold no expectations as to how that happens. the "how" is not your job to decide, so there's no point adding your own parameters to how God will work. Just allow grace to do its thing.
I guess whatever works best for you.
it does work best! nobody plans better than God
You're expecting that God will provide a positive outcome.
Meaning expectations are OK as long as they're in line with expecting God to do the right thing for us, answer prayers, etc.
I'm not finding fault with any of that; merely pointing out that you replaced one set of expectations with another that's more in line with your spiritual makeup. OK by me! First Amendment rules.
At 19 when I was in the military I came up with "Presuppose nothing, and you will not be disappointed." Sort of close to the same idea, without invoking God or assuming I know how he functions.
knowing prayers will be answered isn't an expectation! that's just how things work. for every one that asketh receiveth!
when you learn that, it might be tempting to ask for very specific things. but most often, your specific desires represent deeper unconscious desires, and those true desires are the prayers that will be answered.
when you get lost in your own specifics, you actually restrict the ways in which your prayers can be answered.
so yeah, dropping expectations doesn't mean losing faith. quite the opposite.
not assuming, either... try it and see.
i know you didnt ask, but there it is