change my expectations

by Yvette van Niekerk

John 15:11 “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you.” Are you struggling to find joy in your life? Jesus promised us that His joy would remain in us and that our joy would be full. However, stress and unrealistic expectations can drain us of joy and lead us to a life of depression, dullness, and discontent. Here are two things you can do to experience the joy that Jesus promised: Concede that your uprightness is largely because of the way you have decided life would be. Acknowledge that your expectations are causing you much of your frustrations. When you keep expecting things to always be a certain way and they’re not, you will always be upset. Try approaching life today without all those expectations. For example, don’t expect everybody to be friendly – then when some are, you will be delighted. Don’t expect your day to be hassle-free; when trouble comes, look up and say “Thank you, LORD, for another chance to grow.” Rather than swimming against the tide, learn to flow with it. Pretty soon, you will find you are enjoying life more! And not just that: Other people will enjoy being around you more. Start memorizing scripture. Colossians 3:16 “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.” When we have stored wonderful words in our memory, we will have a much richer inner life than someone who doesn’t. Memorizing never makes your mind a duller place – just the opposite! The words we carry in our minds are available to transform any given moment. So when there is a verse of Scripture that speaks to you, stop and write it on a card. Put it on a mirror in your bathroom, on your smartphone or calendar, or in your car. If you’re an auditory learner, listen to the scripture being read on CDs or on an iPod. If you’re a visual learner, light a candle and read these words: “God is light; in him, there is no darkness at all” 1 John 1:4 NIV. When God’s word is rehearsed, remembered, and repeated often, it’s like a stream of joy, peace, and strength that flows through our lives. Remember, joyless Christianity is dangerous. Let us strive to find joy in our lives by changing our expectations and memorizing scripture.