This is so unbelievably true. We form expectations as a way to deal with the world, but when there is a disconnect between our expectations and reality, we face disappointment. Understanding both what you can realistically expect from your partner and what they can expect from you is one of the best things that can happen to your communication.
While you should be careful to not become disillusioned with your expectations of each other, here is the greatest truth: you can never have expectations of the Lord that are too high for Him.
Did you get that?
You can never place an expectation of something good on the Lord and have him reply, "actually, that's a little too much. I don't know if I can handle that." Even typing that makes me want to laugh at how ridiculous it sounds.
God is the only being who will never let you down. He will never leave you, and he will never stop loving you. He will also never stop rooting for your marriage to be incredible. He created you for each other, and it honors him when you love each other. Expect everything from Jesus, because that is what he wants for you. God wants your marriage to be unrealistically amazing. He wants your love story to be legen(wait for it)dary. Claim that promise and run with it! You are human, but you are loved by the God of the universe!
A friend of mine told me about some conversations she had with women at her work, where she would be talking about something sweet her husband did, and the women would tear her marriage down by placing false expectations of failure onto her man. The women said things like, "Oh girl, you just wait. It's only a matter of time. The romance won't last."
These are lies! The experiences these women speak from are coming out of marriages that were not centered on a perfect and loving God. You are allowed to believe that your marriage will continue to be great, because you have the support and resources you need. Marriage without God is way more difficult to do, but you can set yourself up for success by placing God in His rightful place. Marriage was created to be awesome.
A friend of mine told me about some conversations she had with women at her work, where she would be talking about something sweet her husband did, and the women would tear her marriage down by placing false expectations of failure onto her man. The women said things like, "Oh girl, you just wait. It's only a matter of time. The romance won't last."
These are lies! The experiences these women speak from are coming out of marriages that were not centered on a perfect and loving God. You are allowed to believe that your marriage will continue to be great, because you have the support and resources you need. Marriage without God is way more difficult to do, but you can set yourself up for success by placing God in His rightful place. Marriage was created to be awesome.
You can have a love story for the ages, even though the house may not always be clean and your words may not always be the right ones. With God at the center, things make a whole lot more sense.
--Caroline
"He will also never stop rooting for your marriage to be incredible." --Just love that line. It is so true. I have recently had to young teenagers tell me (afte saying that Jeramie and I would never get divorced) to knock on some wood because I had jinxed myself. It makes me so sad that the younger generations don't see marriage as a beautiful and forever thing, but simply something that can be cancelled if it just doesn't work out. Beautiful post, as always <3
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