Daily Prayer - Unmet expectations

Good Thursday morning, my friends.
 
As I reflect on the journey my family is on with my brother's illness it occurs to me that during challenging times our natural tendency is to focus on the challenge itself.  We look at how big, how long, and how painful it is.  But we can make another choice.  We can choose focus on Jesus and "how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:18-19).
 
In the midst of your challenge, make that choice - the choice to focus on Jesus.  Yes, you may have unmet expectations in your walk of faith.  You expected healing.  You expected financial relief.  You expected that relationship to flourish, not disintegrate.  The Jews in Jesus' time had great expectations for the Messiah, but Jesus was not the Messiah they expected.  Even His disciples were disappointed and astonished when Jesus was arrested, tortured and killed.  They thought it was over.  They had many unmet expectations.  But as they discovered, Jesus had something completely different in mind, something much better.  And He does for you as well.  Hang in there.  Don't leave in the middle of the movie - the ending is spectacular.
 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce
 

Father, Your Word admonishes us to "Contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints." 
 
There are many obstacles that will lead us astray as we contend for the faith if our eyes become fixed on the obstacles. 
 
Instead we want to fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who set His eyes on the throne of God, enabling Him to endure the cross, its shame and agony. 
 
Fix our eyes on the goal of heaven where all will finally be made perfectly clear when we see Jesus face to face. 
 
In the meantime sustain us through Your mercy, grow our faith, and help us to take as many as possible with us to our eternal home in heaven.
 
In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
 
(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2013/07/02/a-prayer-during-times-of-darkness/)