Expectations or Expectancy

I once heard a pastor talk about the difference between expectations and expectancy.  He said if we put expectations on someone we are putting them under law and it will frequently feel like a heavy burden. However, if we have a sense of expectancy about what a person can achieve it is grace not law. It will feel lighter and encouraging. I can see what he means.  If someone has expectations of me, I can feel oppressed by it. Am I good enough? Will I fail?  If someone (and that someone includes myself!) looks at me with expectancy it is because they believe in me, and my ability and I respond positively to it.

An example of this is of one of my previous bosses. His name is Rev Matt Boyes. He was then the vicar at Christ Church Turnham Green, which was my last post as a parish evangelist 6 years ago. Matt didn't put expectations on me but he did have expectancy about what I could achieve with God and the support of the Church.  It made me the most productive I could be in my role as parish evangelist. I achieved the most I could under his guidance and support. 

As I thought about this expectations/expectancy idea I realised two things. Firstly, I had put expectations on to God. I expected him to act in a certain way. I thought He ought to do certain things for me. But He didn't. He failed my expectations. That is one reason why I experienced a time of severe doubts about His existence.  It was easier for me to not believe in Him than to realise that I can't control God, or make Him do what I want Him to do. 

I found myself wondering what would happen if I had expectancy about what God could do but didn't put expectations on Him?  I hate it when people put difficult expectations on me, so it is unfair of me to do the same to God. 

How different would my faith look if I didn't have expectations of God? I am now aiming to have expectancy about what God will do. 

The second question I have about this is whether I am putting expectations on myself about my writing. Or do I have a sense of expectancy about what I write? How different will my writing be if I have expectancy about what God and I can achieve together, rather than putting difficult expectations on myself.

I think I have been putting expectations on myself about what my writing should be. I don't treat myself with grace and expectancy. I am going to surrender my writing to God again and see what we can achieve, the Holy Spirit and myself working in expectancy together. What about you?

Lynda Alsford is a sea loving, cat loving GP administrator and writes in her spare time. She has written two books, He Never Let Go describes her journey through a major crisis of faith whilst working as an evangelist at a lively Church in Chiswick, West London. Being Known describes how God set her free from food addiction. Both books are available in paperback and on kindle on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com. She writes a newsletter, Seeking the Healer, in which she shares the spiritual insights she has gained on her journey. Sign up for this at her website www.lyndaalsford.com. She is also administrator for ACW.