What Do You Expect?

I expect that life will have its stormy moments. Certainly, you know this, too. Storms of life are guaranteed in a fallen world. Pre-king David, faced incredible storms that were completely out of his control. He was running for his life, hiding in caves to avoid a madman bent on his demise. Yet, David’s expectations jumped out at me as he writes in Psalm 57:

“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!” Psalm 57:1-3 (bolded emphasis my own)

David expected that the storms would pass

Wherever you are, whatever you are facing, it will pass. You will not be in this storm forever! Now this isn’t a promise that your storm will be short lived. Storms vary in length. Your troubled path may brighten today, or next week, or next year, or it may last for the rest of your life on this earth, but it will not last forever! David’s “run for your life” storm lasted a very long time. But the storm did pass, and he clung to his Refuge until it did. I choose to live expecting that the storm will pass.

David expected God was fulfilling His purpose for him

This is faith. This is complete trust in the wisdom and working of a loving God. God is working for you even in the ugly moments. God is fulfilling His beautiful purpose in you, even in the storm. It is the storms of life that have made me stronger in my faith, more reliant on my Father for strength, and more compassionate towards others. God is fulfilling His purpose for me—always. I choose to live expecting that, each day, God is fulfilling His purpose for me.

David expected God would send out His steadfast love and faithfulness 

Nothing can shake, change, or separate me from God’s steadfast love and His faithful deliverance in my life. He is present in the storm. He offers shelter and strength, and sometimes He chooses to end the storm. I choose to expect that through the storm and beyond, God’s steadfast love and faithfulness will never change – sunshine or storm.

So here David is running for his life from a madman, and declares his firm expectation of His great God. Wherever you are today, choose to live by these same expectations:

• Expect that the storm will pass
• Expect that God is fulfilling His purpose for you
• Expect that God will send out His steadfast love and faithfulness

Storms of life are inevitable. What do you expect?