Let Go of Your Expectations (And Hold Onto God's Hand) - #16
This is tough a lot of the time for me to do, too, but trust me, God's plan is BIGGER. Letting go of your expectations will lead to miracles that you could scarcely imagine!
Here’s one of the biggest challenges for me recently -
Being still, and just letting God be God.
God is able to do whatever He said He would do.
It doesn’t matter how dire or desperate circumstances may have become.
God’s word is God’s word.
It cannot return void - it is always fruitful in what it says it’ll be.
We simply need to just stay with Him and with His word.
Trusting the fruits of God’s word (aka yep it is always fruitful) is a good thing to learn.
One great story from the Bible on this is the Widow of Zarapheth.
She didn’t hide how dire and desperate her situation had become from the prophet, Elisha.
This ended up turning out for her ultimate good, as she found salvation from a famine that would have surely ended her and son’s lives.
Elisha was sent to her in this pivotal moment, and he helped her receive a very wonderful, personal miracle.
She showed the faith, and the Lord blessed her immensely.
See if you can point out some of the powerful language that the Lord spoke through Elisha (who was the prophet at the time) over this woman and her household:
1 Kings 17:14-16
14 For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.
15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah.
The Widow Let Go of Her Expectations
The widow had done what she could do.
She was preparing for that final meal for her and her son.
She expected that she was going to die.
Thankfully, she let go of her expectations.
She decided to hold God’s hand, by following the prophet.
I am finding a similar joy and euphoria from letting go of my expectations, and just holding God’s hand.
If the Widow of Zarapheth teaches us anything, it’s that continuing to hold to the Lord leads to personal and wonderful miracles.
Perhaps the miracle may not always be one so financially-reassuring as this one, but we can be sure - from holding God’s hand we will get what is the BEST for us.
SO…
Fear Not, He Will Come on Time
God’s timing is perfect.
Elisha got to the Widow of Zarapheth right before she was about to cook her last meal.
There are times where I really am like… how am I going to get to X or become Y?
It is then that I feel the Lord reminds me what He told His disciples in John 4:32
John 4:32
32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
This gives me immense comfort.
It also reminds me that I can COMPLETELY let go of my expectations…
Knowing that God is going to give me WAY more than I could have imagined.
It will be done in His time, His way, and according to my most personal needs -
Hallelujah!
Psalm 46:10 says the following,
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
For me this is basically saying, “Yeah, man. It’s going to be worth it.”
The Wait Will be Worth it
It sort of makes me think of raising a Dragonite in Pokemon.
In Pokemon, the progression of training becomes most evident through evolutions.
All of that battling behind the scenes (and being true to yourself) really does pay off.
Evolutions in Pokemon unlock new movesets, competitive potential, and even types.
If you’d like me to go DEEP into this topic in audio form, here you go:
Case in point - without evolutions, the Pokemon is not able to reach their full potential.
I feel the same is true with our lives - we need to go through various stages of growth.
Each stage helps us to appreciate more what we are becoming and will yet become.
It takes a while to raise Dragonair up to Dragonite.
Dragonair requires more experience points (EXP) to level up than most Pokemon.
This makes evolving take a LOT longer for it (needs to get to level 55).
When it becomes that Dragonite though, it’s really sweet to see.
Dragonite WRECKS shop, and a lot of that is because of all the prep work and time -
Dragonite rises above MUCH of the competition - and it’s clear to see why.
The evolutionary path for Dragonite is long and tough - but it is meaningful.
Remember, that as you are evolving and growing that
The Lord Will Fight for You
Exodus 14:14 says the following:
14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
In my life I am learning to trust more the vision I have…
But let go of my expectations for how to get there.
Especially recently… I am just letting go and letting Him, and it’s been THRILLING to see what’s happening.
It really is true that
His Ways Are Higher
When I write, I feel peace -
I feel the Lord’s strength encouraging me forward.
That’s ALL I need.
I know that God is going to keep blessing and prospering me on this path.
He’ll continue to put people in my path that will help the newsletter and my writing to grow. He is gracious and He is true to His word. He will provide.
Galatians 5:22-23 says it well:
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
God is taking care of me in all the ways that I need to be taken care of right now.
In feeling His Spirit in the depths of my current journey, it really helps me rise above and fully embrace the moments and beautiful marvels I’ll get to taste later.
It really is ALL going to be so worth it. :)
Today we learned:
The Power of Letting Go of Our Expectations and Holding Onto God’s Hand
How the Lord Comes on Time
The Wait is Always Worth it
Thank you for Reading YIELD Deeply
If today’s message touched your heart, I have one request.
Share this with someone whom you feel would benefit from it.
As of now the newsletter is continuing to grow, and I am excited for that!
I continue to share it when I am out and about on my walks, and as I get to know new people. I never force it on them, but I do make the invitation when I feel it’s appropriate.
This is leading to a healthier email list, and a lot of joy - and the best is yet to come!
Quick reminder - on April 15, 2024 when my next book launches, YOU will be getting a free copy of it.
Every person that is on this list on April 15, 2024 will get the pdf copy of my book sent to them.
The goal with this is to spread a LOT of light and hopefully it will lead to some Amazon reviews to help get the book in a good place in the Amazon algorithm early.
I also really feel it is what would help the world out most - so that’s what I am doing.
In any case, it’s going to feel GREAT to send the book out to so many people. :)
I really am so thankful for you reading, and I hope this is a blessing to you.
I am going to keep improving this. :)
It’s only going to get better.
Your feedback, sharing and encouragement is definitely appreciated.
Thanks so much!
If you haven’t read my previous book, “God is Trying to Talk to Me”, then here you go:
The Last Thought
Again, experimenting… but yeah I wanted to have a scripture and a brief testimony be the last thing you read with these, and see how that goes. So yep. :)
Isaiah 54:10 -
10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.
I know that Christ will NOT leave us hanging. I know that He is aware of ALL our pain and will help us to learn from our journey in the best ways possible.
I know that He is merciful, compassionate, and mighty. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
