Releasing Expectations

The Lord has recently been teaching me about releasing expectations. I feel like this is something we come back to over and over, but that’s okay. One thing I’ve learned in my relationship with God is that He is both linear and cyclical. By that I mean He’s always moving us forward, maturing and growing us. But He’ll also take us back to the same thing multiple times because He wants to reveal something new or help us understand it just a little bit more.

So that’s where I am right now.

When I accepted this position at Adventures, I honestly didn’t think it would be too hard. It’s a task based position…I’m a task oriented person. Easy right?

What I failed to piece together is that not everyone thinks the same way I do. From an early age, I have put high expectations on myself. I do what needs to be done when it needs to be done, and don’t really need people holding my hand to do so (except maybe cleaning, sorry Mom). I am very responsible, reliable, and duty-based. Responsibility, dependability, honesty, integrity. These are things on which I place high value.

But people are different and value different things. As I continue in my job, I’m realizing that not everyone does what they need to do when they need to do it. Some people need more reminders. Some people need more details. Some people need just a little more guidance than the rest.

I’m learning to be okay with that, to embrace it even.

I was chatting with my boss yesterday and sharing some of the things I had been realizing, and she said “It’s so easy for us as humans to put the things we value and are gifted in onto other people and expect the same things from them.” Yes, exactly. That is what I had been doing since I started in my position. That’s just not realistic, and it’s not serving the people I work with well.

So I’m learning to let go. I’m learning to ask Jesus at the beginning of every day to give me an extra dose of grace for those I work with. And for myself. At the end of the day, I love what I do. I get to be an integral part in mobilizing the next generation of missionaries to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the nations. That is really freaking cool.

So I am working on getting off my high horse and simply meeting people where they’re at. I’m still in progress, but aren’t we all? Let’s choose to be okay where we’re at, embracing and loving where other people are at as well.

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I am so excited to announce that the Lord has already provided $150 a month in financial support!! The team He is surrounding me with is absolutely incredible. I am so thankful for everyone who has joined me so far!

I am still looking to expand my team by $350 a month. Would you consider joining me at $25, $50, $100, or any other amount the Lord tells you? If so, just click the “Donate” link at the top of this page. Donations are tax-deductible and go towards helping me mobilize the next generation of missionaries to be the hands and feet of Jesus.