When You Cannot Meet Expectations

“When she saw her hope unfulfilled, her expectation gone, she took another of her cubs and made him a strong lion.” Ezekiel 19:5 

  

  In the expectations game everyone loses when it comes to living with an illness. We can become discouraged and depressed when our hopes are dashed, when we have a few “good days” and expect them to continue, only to be knocked flat again by affliction. 

  Expectations can create all sorts of problems between spouses and friends and family. We say we will do something, or make plans ahead of time to go to an event, only to have our hopes thwarted and the injury multiplied by disappointing those close to us. And the situation is not improved by those who have little understanding or willingness to accept such disappointment. 

  We cannot control the reactions of others. If grown people act like immature children because the stars do not always align perfectly for them there is nothing we can do about it. If people have short memories, forgetting the good days God has blessed them with, and are only willing to focus on disappointments, we can’t make them broaden their vision to see the entire picture.  

  The rain often follows sunny days, the seasons of life and the seasons of our illness change. It is wonderful to see the sun shining after so many rainy days, and how great it is when the Lord blesses us with improvements in our circumstances after a difficult period. But though we may try to see and accept these situations philosophically, others may ignore the good things and only focus on the half-empty glass in front of them. 

  It can be painful when friends and family turn away from us because of our afflictions. It is astounding that when we need friends and family the most, they can shun us, react with anger and resentment when we are under the pressure of flaring illness and pain.  

  I have learned over the years to take my frustrations and disappointments to God. For He will give you the strength and patience to deal with difficult individuals, and with the worsening affliction. 

  It is very sad that on top of the weight of affliction and illness the afflicted must also deal with unmet expectations of others.  

  Give the Lord your frustrations, and pray for patience with those who have unreal expectations when you are dealing with affliction.  

  Prayer: Dear Lord, frustrations abound in our lives because of afflictions, and disappointment, especially coming from others, is very hard to bear. Help us to be patient in affliction. Amen.