Imagination Versus Reality
by Tanya Person
Recently some of us were walking together on the land at Ellel USA. It was one of those days when the clouds were right on the ground. It wasn’t raining, but it was damp, because we were walking in the clouds which were full of moisture. That made me think of how, as a child, I would imagine walking on the clouds. I imagined them fluffy and soft. I never imagined them wet! I realised how often our imagination is very different from reality.
In the same way, we can have expectations about things in our life. We have our ideas about what life will be like, what marriage will be like, or a job, or an event we are attending. We have expectations about what a church will be like. We even have expectations when we pray about how God will answer our prayers. The problem is people rarely live up to our expectations, and God frequently answers our prayers in ways that are different from our expectations. This can leave us feeling frustrated and disappointed. We can become angry with the world and angry with God.
What is the solution? Do we just become pessimistic and always expect bad things to happen so that we won’t be disappointed again? That is not God’s solution!
The Bible says, in Jeremiah 2:36-37, ‘Why do you go about so much, changing your ways? You will be disappointed by Egypt as you were by Assyria. You will also leave that place with your hands on your head, for the LORD has rejected those you trust; you will not be helped by them.’
Rather than putting our trust in humans, we should trust in the Lord, as our scripture for today says. Also, Isaiah 40:31 says, ‘but those who hope (definition: wait, look for, hope, expect) in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.’
Therefore, we must continue to look to God, put our trust in Him, wait with expectation for Him to act. He will not disappoint us.
Tanya Person Tanya and her husband, Jim, were missionaries to Hungary for over 18 years. They have worked with Ellel since 2005. After serving in various positions with Ellel in Central and Eastern Europe, God led them back to the United States, where they are now serving with the Ellel USA team. They have a passion to see leaders restored, the church discipled and walking in God’s fullness of life and freedom, and for mentoring the existing and developing team. Tanya also enjoys crocheting and knitting in her free time and has written some children’s picture books.
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