Expectations and Disappointments

Today I am reminded of a story someone once told me.

I have a missionary friend that goes into poor, third-world countries visiting orphanages.

One orphanage he longed to visit was closed to him; no matter what he did, he and his team kept hearing, “No. It is not allowed. You are not welcome.”

One day they concocted a bold plan. They searched for Hollywood type of superhero costumes.  High quality. Believable. Finally, the costumes arrived and they put them on and traveled to the orphanage fully costumed and in character.

The guards were shocked.  Their protocol did not tell them how to handle superheroes at the gate, so in confusion, they let the missionaries in.

They were ushered into the Director’s office who stunned, jumped to her feet and saluted them.

She let them visit the children. The children took one look at them, convinced that their saviors had arrived. This would be the last day in poverty, in need, in want.

When the missionaries realized what the kids believed, it broke their hearts. There would come a time when they would have to leave without them.  Still in the orphanage. Still in the same situation.

Jesus experienced a similar event on Palm Sunday. The Jewish people of that time believed He was there to rescue them from oppression, cruelty, high taxes, poverty.

When the people found out a few days later that Jesus wasn’t there to meet their expectations, they turned on Him. They shouted to their leaders to crucify Him simply because He didn’t meet their lowly expectations.

Daily we have a choice to make.

What if life doesn’t turn out the way we expect? What will we do? Do we reach for empty comforts and for what used to satisfy?

Or, do we trust Him to have a bigger plan that we don’t even understand or realize?

Will we follow Him or are our expectations sitting on His throne in our lives?