Frustrated Expectations

Scripture For Meditation — Isaiah 26:17-18

When a woman is pregnant, she is said to be “expecting”.

Expecting means: To think or believe something will happen, or someone will arrive. It also means Normal; what usually happens; to regard (someone) as likely to do or be something.

Let’s do a quick word study on the meaning of the root word, expect.

When the root word “Expect” , is used, we mean to say that we believe that something will happen, or to consider something as likely to happen, to believe that (someone or something) will arrive soon.

So, Expect means: To anticipate, await, look for, hope for, watch for, look forward to, look ahead to, have in prospect; contemplate, bargain for/on, bank on, be prepared for, plan for; predict, forecast, foresee, prophesy, envisage, envision.

Unfortunately however, as we read in today’s scripture text, things sometimes don’t go, or happen as we expected; times are, when our expectations are delayed or even completely disappointed at other times.

“As a woman with child approaches the time to give birth, She is in pain and struggles and cries out in her labor, So we were before You, O LORD.

We have been with child, we have twisted and struggled in labor; We gave birth, as it seems, only to wind. We could not accomplish salvation for the earth, Nor were inhabitants of the world born.” (Isa 26:17-18 Amplified)

We have been with child — Like women with child; we have been full of hopes and expectations of great things, of deliverance from our enemies, and of the help from God being at hand:

We have been in pain — We have gone through the waiting period of pregnancy carrying the hope of a coming baby; sometimes in great distress and anxiety, and now we have come to the time of birth when we expect that the baby will be delivered; travailing in birth, we looked upon the pain as a prelude to a happy issue of things: ThatThis baby will be born!

We have as it were brought forth wind — But alas; our efforts have availed nothing. (The issue of all their painful toil was like the result of a false pregnancy!)

We have been through the waiting, we have suffered patiently in the hope; we have been through the pain of the travailing, but without the expectant result!

Can you identify with all that?

Hear again, what God is saying to you dear friend:

“Zion, would I bring you to the moment of birth and not let it happen?” says the LORD. “Would I close up a mother’s body when it is time for her baby to be born?” says your God.” (Isa 66:9 NIRV).

Keep Speaking Right!

Keep declaring the words of the prophecy and promise that God has given to you; keep speaking the right things concerning your life and into your situation. That is what pleases God!

“My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will be glad, even mine;

Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak right things.

Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord all the day long.

For surely there is a latter end [a future and a reward], and your hope and expectation shall not be cut off.” (Pro 23:15, Amplified)

Selah…

Pastor Wale Ola

PRAYER FOCUS

Ask that God will strengthen you in waiting.

As Paul prayed for the church In Ephesus,

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. (Eph 3:16, New Living Translation)

Pray that God will exalt His word concerning you and bring His promises to pass in your life.

Pray that there will no longer be any delays or obstructions to your delivery.

Pray that the hope you are carrying will not be disappointed, aborted or miscarried.

Pray that your expectations will not be cut off.

Pray that God will intervene in your situation to bring about a timely and safe delivery of His purposes for your life in their due season.