UNFULFILLED EXPECTATIONS
March 29, 2026
Devotional
Unfilled expectations are a part of life. Unfulfilled expectations occur when we expect something to happen, and it doesn’t. It is what we had hoped, believed or expected would happen, but it didn’t happen! This can happen in numerous aspects of life such as relationships, career, or personal achievements.
This next hour you have certain expectations. You anticipate that since I am only doing a devotional, I won’t talk for 40 minutes. You expect your car to start when you leave. Not only do you have certain expectations over the next hour, but for the rest of the day, tomorrow, and for years to come. You have certain expectations to live happily ever after.
Also, please realize others have expectations for you. My wife expects me to take the garbage out for Friday morning pick-up. She expects me to be a loving, caring, supportive husband. There are certain expectations that you have of me as a pastor.
Let me ask you this. Do you have unfulfilled expectations? Has some unfulfilled expectation caused you to lose your joy, to be discouraged, stressed, bitter or angry?
Almost 2000 years ago, expectations soared as Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday. The people expected to crown him as King, the Messiah. Jesus was going to deliver them from the Romans. God was going to set up an earthly kingdom. The whole crowd began to praise God in loud voices saying Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest. Expectations were high. The Messiah had arrived.
Yet the week turned out to be full of unfulfilled expectations.
The Jews expected him to become their earthly king. They crucified him.
Judas expected he was going to become wealthy as Jesus was going to set up his kingdom. He betrayed him.
Peter expected himself to go to death with Jesus. He denied him three times.
Pilate expected the people would want to release Jesus. They released Barabbas, a murderer, and Jesus was crucified.
The disciples were going to stick by Jesus through thick and thin. They ran away.
Mary expected to anoint Jesus’ dead body; his body was gone.
The teachers of the law wanted him to be put to death because he was demonic, a false teacher. They expected after Jesus’ death to be done with the problem, but it had only just begun.
It was a week of unfulfilled expectations. No one understood. No one expected Jesus would die and rise from the dead. This morning, I want to briefly note several principles relating to expectations that we can learn from that first Palm Sunday and Passion Week.
First, realize your expectations might not be God’s, unless they are expectations firmly planted in the word of God. The people assumed that Jesus would establish his earthly kingship, but it was not firmly based in God’s word.
The Jewish people expected the Messiah to be this great military deliver. The Jews, Jesus own disciples, did not understand Jesus as one who would have to suffer and die. They based their expectations on their selfish, limited perspective.
Often, we do the same thing. So many have improper expectations of God. Some look for God to bless them materially. Others expect God to heal them from their infirmities. Others expect God never to allow suffering. Some expect God to accept them into his kingdom without repenting of their sin or having no real faith or commitment to love Jesus. Some have expected Jesus to return on a certain date, but don’t seriously consider Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:36, But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (Also note Matthew 24:42-44). Many believe we will be raptured out before the tribulation period. I hope so, but my responsibility is to stand firm until His return.
As Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, and as the week progressed, only Jesus understood God’s word and will. He knew what God expected. He tried to tell his disciples, but they did not understand or want to accept it.
Here is a second principle concerning expectations. Wake up to the fact that your expectations are hampered by your sinfulness.
Luke 19:41 notes, Jesus approached Jerusalem, saw the city, and he wept over it. Jesus wept because of their sinfulness. The expectations of the Israelites were out of line with God’s will. They were prideful, self-righteous people. They cried out Hosanna meaning, “Save now.” They wanted God’s blessing, but there was no real spiritual desire in their hearts, no deep sense of their ugly sin, no real commitment to honor God as God. Instead of crying Hosanna, “Save now,” the appropriate response would have been “Save us from our sin.” It was not until after Jesus’ resurrection as the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost that people were cut to the heart and they woke up to their sinfulness. Yet many refused to believe in Jesus and judgment was going to come!
Our selfishness, our disobedience, our unbelief, our hardheartedness, our pride, our greed, our immorality blinds us to what God expects. So many give lip service to Jesus, but do not grieve over their sin before a Holy God. Sin distorts God’s view of what is truth, what is right or fair. Our sinful nature runs deep, and often we want God on our terms, rather than wanting God on His terms. Sin will distort and destroy. God will ultimately execute judgment. As Ephesians 5:14 or Revelation 3:2 states, Wake up. (Note Joel 1:5; Romans 13:11.)
Thirdly, do not lose heart/give up when the storms of life destroy your expectations.
The expectations of Jesus’ disciples were devastated as Jesus was arrested and put to death on a cross. Judas had betrayed Jesus and the group. The disciples had to hide because the Jewish leaders were probably looking for them. They had given up everything to follow Jesus. Yet there was nothing to show for it. They were broken and Jesus was dead.
In Luke 24, we have the story…. 13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem…17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
These two men had lost heart, given up! In a similar way, we can feel devastated flunking a test, failing a course, smashing the car, not having a job, a physical illness, a victim seeing her assailant go free, losing a loved one or 101 other things.
At times, we feel like, “What is the use?” “Life is not fair.” Listen, God never promised life would be fair. In fact, Jesus said, “In this world you are going to have trouble (John 16:33). We all have unfulfilled expectations or troubles of some sort: stress, failures, discouragement, heartaches or grief. We can expect it!
However, there is good news. As Jesus said, In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33). The disciples’ unfulfilled expectations were unexpectedly fulfilled on Resurrection Sunday. Devastation turned into great joy. The resurrection changes everything!
I am going to talk about this more next week, but the resurrection gives us hope, joy, and peace. It teaches and prompts us to believe/trust in the Lord. It gives us inner strength through His Spirit to put on a Christlike perspective, to adjust, to process our unfulfilled expectations. It teaches us to grow and develop into His character. It prompts us to put on a Christlike love. As we humble ourselves, trust/abide in Him, walk in His Spirit, we learn to line up our expectations with God’s! Let’s pray!
