Living the Life No One Else Is

My friends, I want you to understand an important truth: often, we harbour hopes and expectations that we have crafted ourselves. When we turn to God with our requests, the typical question that arises is, "What will I gain from this?" However, it is crucial to recognize that the hopes we generate on our own are not promises from God. And because they are not His promises, God is not obliged to fulfil them. He is committed to fulfilling the expectations that He has set forth for us. Many times, we face disappointments over things God never assured us of. We envisage a particular outcome, decide on it, and then hold onto a false hope that if God is guiding us, certain things should naturally follow. But this isn't always true, as shown by the disciples of Jesus. They followed Him, hoping to achieve greatness and authority. Yet, Jesus never promised them such rewards; they had set those expectations for themselves. The inclination to cling to false hopes isn't eliminated by professing faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. This tendency can persist even as one grows deeper in their faith. Even prominent figures in the faith may still hold onto personal expectations. For example, someone with deep spiritual insights might wrongly assume that this should automatically lead to a large following. In essence, discerning the difference between our self-made hopes and God's true promises is vital at every stage of our spiritual journey. Many of the disappointments we experience do not stem from unfulfilled divine promises but rather from our own expectations. Take friendships, for instance. You might believe that if your friend Njeri gets a promotion, you should naturally get one too because of your bond. When reality doesn’t align with these expectations, it leads to anger and resentment. However, this isn't a result of any promise but the expectations you've set for yourself. Be mindful—such reactions reflect the consequences of the fall, eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. When someone close to us progresses, we often subconsciously expect to benefit too, setting us up for emotional hurt that nobody intended. Remember, true peace comes from maintaining focus on God and trusting in Him. Relying on human aid can be futile; not because people always choose not to help, but often they are too preoccupied with their own challenges to act. The ability to remember comes from God – and the butler finally remembered Joseph. It's not that the butler left prison preoccupied with memories of Joseph's kindness. In fact, if you had asked the butler about Joseph right after his release, he would have confidently predicted Joseph’s prompt release too, grateful for the aid he had received. The butler might have even staked his life on it. But as time passed, the butler got caught up in life again and moved ahead. But here's an important reminder: God did not anchor His promises in other people; He anchored them in Himself. Your hopes should not rest on others; this mindset helps you remain grateful when someone does lend you support. Relying on false hopes can erode your sense of gratitude and weaken your faith. Fix your hope in the truth of God's Word instead. If His promises are found in the Scriptures, then they are reliable. If God communicates with you – whether through prayer, worship, dreams, or visions – you can trust in those assurances. If something is not promised in the Bible and God hasn’t personally revealed it to you, tell your soul to be at peace and be still. Elevate God's true promises over any misplaced hope. And reinforce to yourself that what God has pledged is more than enough. Strive for a place where disappointment doesn't reach and heartache is a stranger. Indeed, such a state is attainable. This is not to suggest I've been immune to pain; undoubtedly, people have let me down, and my heart has felt the repercussions—sometimes even fracturing under the weight. However, life's trials have taught me resilience and instilled wisdom within. There have been those who've promised to support me, to stand by me and uplift the calling I've felt in my life. They've confidently committed to help in various ways. Yet, when their support was most needed, they turned away, pretending not to understand the gravity of the situation. Experience is a harsh teacher, showing that reliance on others can sometimes lead to disappointment.