Expectations are everywhere. In sports, every person has expectations, most of which go unmet. There are so many expectations and so much disappointment when they are not met.

Dr. Joe Stowell spoke recently about expectations. He shared three areas in which we deal with unmet expectations: people around us, our place in life, and the future. We tend to create expectations each day that set us up for potential problems.

While in prison, Paul wrote about expectations. His circumstance did not deter his work; instead, those around him became a captive audience to God’s message. He had no idea what his future held, yet Paul made it very clear that his only expectation in life was to live for Christ; and if he were to die, that would be far greater because he would go home to heaven.

Dr. Stowell challenged us to write out our expectations of the people around us, the place we are, and our future. We were to take that list and invite our closest friend(s) over to watch us tear it up, throw it in the trash, or burn it. Then we were to tell them we now have only one expectation in life: Whoever I am with, wherever I am, regardless of the uncertainties that lie ahead, I will live to magnify Christ . . . for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain!