Expectations for God

Did some reflection Psalm 91 today with some fellow pastors. We are using the Psalms as Lenten texts for this season using a series put together by Prof. Carl Bosma of Calvin Seminary.

For the preachers among us, our group generally uses the "Four Pages" method suggested by Paul Scott Wilson's Book, "The Four Pages of a Sermon: A Guide to Biblical Preaching" as a rubric to help get the discussion started.

One of the "problems" that one of the pastors suggested is that when we encounter the text is that we sometimes have "unrealistic expectations of God" in regards to the potential troubles of life.

I wonder,is it unrealistic to have high expectations of God?

Personally, I don't want to have low expectations of God. I expect healing, safety, and protection. Yet, there are times I do realize that I won't receive it. When this happens, I don't automatically think God has failed me or my expectations. Instead, I am confronted with a new issue--God's will. The question isn't whether God has the power to heal, protect, or save. The question is how does my experience or life fit within his greater will and plan?

Where then is the comfort or grace in this text? I have some more study to do, but unless I find some more surprises, I think the answer is found that our lives have meaning beyond the grave. We are protected from eternal death. We are spared and saved from eternal injury. We are rescued by Jesus Christ. We are, as the Psalm says, "shown salvation."

Eternal comfort. Sounds good to me. However, today I am healthy and well. I don't want "health and wealth" bullarkey (my new word for the day), but I want Psalm 91 to mean something when I have a checkup at the doctor or when I prepare to leave on a long trip. I don't want to have low expectations for God's protection today.

Still wrestling with that.