Great Expectations

Almost a year ago I shared about the famous novel, Great Expectations. If you recall the article or have read the book, Charles Dickens compares and contrasts values based on external priorities and positions verses internal character. Those who had so much of the world on the outside had so little of heaven on the inside. Many of them lived lives of quiet misery.

I have always appreciated the quote by Henry David Thoreau that says, “There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.” This is true, not just of evil, but of almost every challenge in life. It is such a temptation to go for the quick fix of addressing the manifestation, but real success comes when we look to the root of the problem.

In Great Expectations, as in life, the real problem is not simply that we experience various disappointments but is due to the multiplied effect of our unrealistic expectations. In other words, our expectations do us as much damage as the incidents themselves. This is especially true nowadays due to poor theology that has arisen from the prosperity gospel which is so prevalent in many churches. We think everything should always be rosy in Christianity, but what do we do with such verses as, “Those who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3;12) or what do we do with ten of the remaining apostles dying martyrs’ deaths?

By now, you may be thinking, “How does this apply to homeschooling?” First, I trust we are trying to teach biblical principles, especially due to our label of “Christian” home educators. Since we are going against culture, not only as Christians but even more as Christian home educators, our children need to understand that they will seldom be invited to the world’s parties. If they are, surely, something is amiss. Additionally, many have unrealistic expectations of homeschooling, believing it to be the cure-all for spiritual problems with their children. No, that power is reserved exclusively for Jesus Christ. Finally, while I believe homeschooling is the best educational option, it does not guarantee your child will end up at Harvard or cash in on a six-figure salary right out of school, according to the world’s expectations.

Our prayer prompts for August are focused on our expectations. Are they biblical? Are they fair for both parents and children? Whenever you experience disappointment or disillusionment, the first thing you should inspect is your expectations. For instance, if a child in a third world country has enough food for one meal a day, he would be thrilled, whereas in America we would think this almost criminal. Managing expectations can save you a lot of unnecessary frustration in life. While we can most definitely hope for certain things to happen, when they don’t, we may take a moment to collect our breath and properly vent our disappointment, but after than we commit it to the will of God and seek for Romans 8:28 to burst forth on the scene. We might not see results the next day or even the next year, but God is always faithful.

Please pray with us throughout the month or fast with us on the second Tuesday in August for the following great expectations:

1. Pray that we will seek God, through the Holy Spirit, to make sure our expectations are built upon the solid rock of His Word and will and not upon the fickle and changing opinion of man.
   • You are good and do good; teach me your statutes. –Psalms 119:68
   • “There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. –1 Samuel 2:2
   • Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. –Matthew 24:35
2. Pray that God will reveal His will to our children, so that we parents will not expect to live our lives, or get our unmet needs met, through them but will want His will accomplished in their lives.
   • Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. –Matt. 6:10
   • And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” –Matthew 26:39
3. While we may hope for a life of peace and comfort, pray that God will make us and our children strong in spirit and heart, regardless of what circumstances come our way.
   • And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.” –Job 2:3
   • Then Ephraim shall become like a mighty warrior, and their hearts shall be glad as with wine. Their children shall see it and be glad; their hearts shall rejoice in the Lord. –Zechariah 10:7
4. Pray that through God’s mercies He will call our children to salvation at a young age and capture their hearts for His glory.
   • When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day. –1 Samuel 10:9
   • And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. –Luke 1:5
5. Pray that both we parents and our children learn to handle unexpected setbacks and disappointments in life, whether they be temporary or long, with grace.
   • In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him. –Ecc. 7:14
   • But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. –Gen. 39:21
6. Pray that we will not expect quick educational or spiritual riches but will realize that success is a result of thousands of small decisions made over a twenty-to-thirty-year period of raising our children, all made by the grace of God.
   • Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. –Proverbs 21:5
   • Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. –Psalms 25:12
7. Pray that when our expectations regarding people are not met, we will choose mercy over judgment and forgiveness over bitterness. This includes parents to children and children to parents.
   • “Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, –Zech. 7:9
   • See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; –Hebrews 12:15
8. Neither we parents nor our children can be expected to be perfect in homeschooling or in life. Therefore, let us pray that our homes will radiate with encouragement, learning, and restoration.
   • Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double. –Zech. 9:12
   • that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, –Col. 2:2
9. We cannot expect to pray perfect prayers. The good news is the Holy Spirit, who resides within Christians, prays for us according to the will of God; therefore, we have need only to pray, being assured that as the Spirit prays for us to our who advocate, Jesus Christ, prays to the Father on our behalf. Pray that we will expect the Holy Spirit and Christ to intercede and advocate perfectly to God on our behalf as the scriptures teach.
   • Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. –Romans 8:26
   • Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” –Luke 11:1
   • My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. –1 John 2:1
10. Pray that we will have full confidence in our expectations that God will will be done in our family’s life.
    • And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. –Phil 1:6
    • He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. –1 Thes 5:24