Midweek Encouragement - “Overexpecting”

“Overexpecting”

             ^{If you really think about it, our world is full of overexpecters. They’re in every profession, most of our schools, many of your local businesses, and even in some homes and churches.}

         ^{To the overexpecter, enough is never enough. There’s always room for improvement, always an area or two that isn’t quite up to standards, always something to criticize. Always. The overexpecter uses words like “ought” and “should” and loves to use sentences that include “must” and “more.” For the overexpecter, “work harder” and “reach higher” are the rule rather than the exception. When you’re around an overexpecter, you get the impression that no matter how hard you’ve tried, you haven’t measured up. And what’s worse, you never will. Oh, overexpecters won’t ever say that, but their message oozes from their frowns and glares. Sooner than later your motivation is whittled to nothing as demands and expectations replace enthusiasm with guilt. Pretty soon you realize that you’ve become a slave of the impossible.}

         ^{Stay around an overexpecter long enough and the fun fades, laughter leaves, and only the tyranny of the urgent remains.}

         ^{The problem with overexpecters is that nobody can muster up enough courage to tell overexpecters where to get off. And so that little child loses his love for art because he’s told time and again to stop coloring outside the lines. Yes, I’m sad to tell you that some parents are overexpecters.}

          ^{Because nobody is bold enough to confront an overexpecter, a wife’s joy around the house erodes because she never seems able to please the man she married. Yes, I’m sorry to tell you that some husbands are overexpecters.}

         ^{That gifted and competent employee gets an ulcer because the boss finds it next to impossible to say two monosyllabic words . . . “good job.” Sadly, some employers are often overexpecters.}

         ^{The once-dedicated, motivated pastor in a small church finally decides to go back to his or her secular employment because they realize, no matter what they do, they’ll never be able to please their church families. Yes, church members are often overexpecters.}

         ^{And yes, congregations can get tired of being beaten up and bruised by jabs, hooks, and uppercuts from pulpits. Some pastors are often overexpecters.}

         ^{So what’s the answer? Surely it’s not the opposite extreme. Mediocrity can’t be healthy. Life without challenge is almost as exciting as watching grass grow. Sorry, I don’t have all the answers, but when I think about my own tendency to overexpect, six words help me a lot. Honesty . . . reality . . . acceptance . . . tolerance . . . acknowledgement . . . encouragement.}

         ^{Shouldn’t Jesus be our model? He promised people “rest” if they’d just come to Him. And He certainly never held before them an endless list of unrealistic expectations. He even said His yoke would be “easy” and His burden “light.”}

         ^{All of us need a big dose this southern advice: When I works, I works hard; When I sits, I sits loose; When I thinks, I falls asleep.}

         ^{Let’s keep our expectations realistic. The next time your employees, or spouse, or pastor, or congregation, or children don’t meet your expectations, ask yourself if perhaps you’re being a little bit over-demanding.}

^{For those of you who will be in worship at the Mt. Laurel Church of God this coming Sunday, May 19, my message will be based on this Scripture:}

^{Acts 2:1-21}

^{Pastor Dale}

Pastor Dale (PD) and Pamela his wife are honored to serve the Mt. Laurel Church of God. If this Mid-Week Encouragement has helped you, perhaps it may encourage someone else. Feel free to share this message with anyone you choose. And if you'd like to receive PD's Mid-Week Encouragement, just send an email to (kingdomguy@gmail.com) and I'll accommodate your request.