Restoring Hearts Blog

“Unmet expectations breed frustrations.” Lysa Terkeurst Have you ever had expectations which were unmet? I have discovered the higher my expectations are, the greater the fall from disappointments. It’s almost impossible NOT to have any expectations and often we’re unaware of them. I try to hold my expectations loosely, so my disappointment is less. Naaman who was leprous and a commander of the army of the king of Aram, was no different than me. He too had unmet expectations

“Unmet expectations breed frustrations.” Lysa Terkeurst I learned years ago that when my expectations are high, then there’s greater possible disappointment if the expectations are not met. If we have expectations of God, how we think He should act in a certain situation and He doesn’t, we can become offended. Our expectations may encourage us to take on the role of a victim. Initially when John’s medical practice began to plummet, my expectations rose to the surface of my he

“When we yield to discouragement, it is usually because we give too much thought to the past or to the future.” St. Therese of Lisieux Discouragement enters through many doors, leaving us feeling “disheartened, deprived of courage or confidence, dejected or depressed in spirits.” Unfulfilled expectations, disappointment, failure and loss can cause discouragement to penetrate our hearts. We spiral down into the pit of discouragement when we listen to lies from Satan. Joyce Mey

“Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.” Alexander Pope It seems many expectations are placed on us during Christmas. For numerous years I hoped to create a picture perfect Christmas for my family, the kind that is a cross between a Norman Rockwell and a Thomas Kinkade painting. I imagined softly fallen snow, joyful children dressed in red, pine trees adorned with homemade ornaments and the scent of holiday cookies baking while Christmas carols

“Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall enjoy everything.” Saint Francis of Assisi In 1981 I asked a friend who had just completed his medical residency for any tips on surviving John’s upcoming surgical internship. Without hesitation he said, “Have no expectations.” He went on to describe the possible scenario of John calling to say he was heading home, only to be paged right back to the ER. That one piece of advice has not only helped me on numerous occasions when