What Did You Expect?

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. -- James 1:2-4

It was something every boy dreams about. The big game is on the line and you're in overtime. With the fate of the game on your shoulders, you run into the end zone and catch a textbook perfect pass from your QB. But then something goes horribly wrong; inexplicably the perfect pass slips through your fingers and you fumble the ball. Certain victory turned into a humiliating defeat and you single handedly lost the game for your teammates, coaches, and fans. There is no getting around it. You blew it, big time

I won't mention the player’s name, but that is exactly what happened to a pro football player a couple of years ago. Not long after the game, he took to his twitter account and wrote:

"I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!! AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! ILL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO…"

That football player, who was a professing Christian, was devastated by the loss and angry at God. Apparently he believed that God owed him a trouble free life that was free from failure, disappointment, and hardship. He had certain expectations of God, and when God did not meet those expectations, he was devastated. But were his expectations biblical?

As Christians, what kind of expectations should we have about this life? Should we expect limitless success and comfort with the wind always at our back? If Christian television is any indication, we should expect marvelous success in all that we do. In fact, many preachers claim that faithful Christians can expect health and wealth, as well as good parking spaces at the mall. They claim that if we are having a good year, we can expect an even better year to follow. But is that true? Did God promise us a trouble free life of plenty? Did God promise that we would catch the game winning pass? Expectations are very important, because wrong expectations can shipwreck our faith.

Here's the reality (to quote the late Rich Mullins), "There's bound to come some trouble to your life." As Christians, we are not immune to the normal trials and tribulations of life. In addition to the common trials of life, we can also expect various forms of persecution. In our text this week we find that Jesus prepared His disciples by forewarning them.

Consider these passages from John 15 and 16. (Remember, chapters 13-16 is a single discourse that Jesus gave to His disciples the night before His crucifixion.)

"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. -- John 15:18-20a

"I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.-- John 16:1-2

Notice that Jesus prepared His disciples, not only by comforting them, but He also prepared them by forewarning them about the difficulties they would face. Notice particularly in John 16:1, He said, "I have said all these things to keep you from falling away." Consequently, we can see how important it is to understand that trials and tribulations are part of the Christian life. Enduring trials is a vital ingredient in a faith that will persevere to the end. In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus described the kind of faith that will not endure to end, and it is the kind of faith that withers in a trial.

As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. -- Matthew 13:20-21

Notice, the rocky ground is the individual who falls away because of tribulation or persecution. If we expect smooth sailing because we are following Christ, we will not endure through times of real difficulty and persecution. Any gospel that promises an easier life by adding Jesus is a false gospel. The Apostle Peter wrote:

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. -- 1 Peter 4:12-16

Comfort in the Pain

So what is our comfort in the midst of trials? Our comfort and joy is Christ Himself, not our circumstances.

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." -- John 16:33

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.-- 1 Peter 1:6-9

The Apostle Paul, when facing a painful trial that he would describe as a thorn in the flesh wrote:

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. -- 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Thankfully, we can endure trials, not by our own strength, but by the grace of God. By the power of Christ, we can face trials with a deep abiding joy and peace, even as tears fall from our eyes because we are secure in Christ, and He has promised to never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6). Christ Himself is our greatest treasure, and we have everything we need in Him. In Christ we have a treasure so great that it defies comprehension, and any suffering that we face in this life cannot compare to the glory of the next.

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. -- Romans 8:16-18

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. -- Ephesians 1:3-14

What to Expect

In this life we can expect trials and tribulations along with the comfort that only Christ can give. In the life to come we can expect glory beyond comprehension. Christians are not exempt from the pain and tears of this life, nor are we guaranteed to catch the game winning pass. But in Christ we find strength, joy, peace, and comfort in the midst of our trials. It is a joy and peace that surpasses our understanding and guards the heart and mind (Philippians 4:7). We can surely rejoice and say, "The Lord is my helper, I will not fear, what can man do to me?"