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My Expectations

When my husband passed away at age 44, every expectation I had for our lives was shattered. I expected him to be there for my children’s milestones and for the life we had planned together. Everything about our life pointed toward a stable, predictable future—we were healthy, secure, and deeply connected.

When Ryan died, my foundation was shaken, leaving a level of devastation I still struggle to describe. In the days following, in shock and clinging to Jesus, I felt like a shell of myself – not knowing what to do or where to go. This wasn’t how our lives were supposed to turn out!

I have no doubt that is how the disciples felt right after Jesus’s death. They traveled with Jesus for several years, heard His teachings every day, and were His close friends, yet they did not understand His true mission. Even though He told them several times what was going to happen, they could not comprehend why the Son of God would need to die.

Israel’s Expectations

In fact, most Jewish people at that time believed that a Messiah would come as a military and political king. There were solid and historical reasons for this expectation.

So, when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, the people waved palm branches and shouted praises because they expected Him to start his military campaign and free them from their enemies. Additionally, He performed miracles and clearly had great power. They saw these signs as proof that Jesus was the Son of David, whom God promised would rule Israel forever.

And He was that king. But not in the way they expected at all. God knew that there were far worse enemies than mortal conquerors and occupying nations. Being eternally separated from God because of our sin was a fate much worse than oppression by any mortal enemy.

He had a much larger battle in mind.

The Real Battle

Satan tricked Adam and Eve into sinning by eating from the Tree of Knowledge. The price they paid for this choice was being evicted from the Garden of Eden. However, an innocent life paid a much steeper price than they did. God sacrificed the life of an innocent animal to make clothes for Adam and Eve, literally covering their sin (nakedness).

Afterward, God required Israel to make sacrifices as atonement for sin, teaching them that sin had a cost while also providing a way for them to repent. However, the blood of innocent animals was never enough to cover all their sins. The cycle continued – they would sacrifice and return to their normal lives. God didn’t actually desire the animals. He wanted repentance and relationship. Humanity couldn’t overcome the sin that separated them from Him, no matter how many chances they were given. God knew He had to provide a more permanent solution.

So, He sent Jesus – His perfect, unblemished, and innocent Son – to serve as the ultimate sacrifice to cover our sins. In doing so, Jesus would defeat death and conquer our true enemy once and for all.

Between the crucifixion and the resurrection, the disciples could not see what God was doing. They didn’t understand that the true battle Jesus was fighting was not against flesh and blood, but against sin and death. Only after they saw Him risen from the dead did they understand that He had provided a way for all mankind to be with the Father forever.

It was the ultimate victory, far greater than overcoming the Romans.

Hebrews 2:14-15 (NIV) says,

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”

If Satan had realized the battle Jesus was actually fighting, I don’t believe he would have crucified the Son of God.

Eternal Expectations

So, let’s revisit those expectations of mine. Like the people of Israel, I expected Jesus to act in a certain way and fulfill my earthly desires according to my vision for my life.

Before my husband passed, I could only see one path for my life. It never occurred to me that I would ever be anything other than a wife with dreams of grandkids and retirement.

Jesus saw a different path, though – one that would bring honor and glory to His name. A path that would reach countless people who need to see the reality of His love. And a path that I believe has more purpose, meaning, and fulfillment than I could have ever imagined for my life.

This can be a hard lesson to swallow. If you are walking this same journey, you may not understand why God would allow this devastation. But remember, Friend, Israel’s expectations were nailed to a cross, too. But Jesus endured that suffering, made that sacrifice, conquered death, and rose from the grave victorious – all to give you an eternal future far greater than anything you could imagine.

I will give my expectations to Jesus!

Dear Jesus, Thank you for fighting the greatest battle of all – against sin and death so that I can be with You forever. Strengthen me and comfort me when my expectations are shattered. Help me to trust that Your plan for my life is good and filled with joy, purpose, and meaning. Amen.

If you have never accepted Jesus’s gift of eternal life, you can pray this simple prayer:

Dear Jesus, Thank you for loving me even when I’ve ignored You and gone my own way. I believe in You and that You died on the cross for me. Please forgive me for all my sins. I commit to changing my ways and following You right now. Thank you for making me a new person inside. Help me grow in my faith and trust in You. Amen.

(prayer from Pastor Mike McGown, Parkway Fellowship, Katy, TX, parkwayfellowship.com)

If you have just accepted Jesus’s gift of eternal life, please contact us at admin@awidowsmight.org, and we will be happy to pray with you and guide you towards the next steps of growing in your faith.