“When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Mark 5:27-28
We’ve had to adjust a lot of expectations around here this year—and that’s an understatement. Vacations, pool parties, summer camp and visits from friends are at the top of a very long list of things we were all expecting that did not happen. It has been challenging for all of us, but particularly for my youngest son, Nicolas, who has a profound dependence on knowing what is going to happen and seeing his expectations met.
Even this week, expectations have had to be readjusted. After receiving confirmation that Nicolas’ school would definitely resume on a certain date, on Friday we received a letter that adjusted that date by more than a month—at the soonest. Then on Sunday, my Pastor spoke a great message about Expectation. He was sharing the story of the woman with the issue of blood found in Mark 5:24-34. Most of us know her story, and the remarkable difference that her expectation made on herself and on Jesus. While dozens of people were touching Jesus as He pressed through a crowd, He was aware of only one touch—because it was the only one that was accompanied by expectation. Her faith and expectancy produced a miraculous result. She was healed, Jesus noticed her, and her life was forever dramatically changed. All those around who had been groping at the mysterious miracle-man had zero expectation, and therefore received no such result.
Photo credit: Pearl on Lightstock.com.
This message on expectation caused me to evaluate my own current state of expectancy. I became aware that the COVID-19 adjustments we’ve made these few months have diminished my expectations in a great many areas of my life. I’ve begun to plan a bit smaller and be happy with less. Yes, before you object, some of this is good. Movie night on the patio is just a good as a night out on the town, and Saturday spaghetti night has had a positive financial impact on our family. But my lower expectations have moved beyond creating a simpler life, and have subtly crept into my hopes and dreams.
I hadn’t realized that so many unmet expectations would create an atmosphere of not having any expectations. The reminder of the woman in Mark 5 was a fantastic wake up call for me to again be intentional about praying with expectancy, urgency and boldness. No matter the climate or current limitations, let us not lessen out expectations for the next season. Whatever comes, we have a promise that God can and will meet and exceed our expectations. We can be the one who touched Jesus and received an answer.
Follow Melanie Gomez at https://redefinespecial.com and on Facebook.
