Question 1

What should I expect in life?

Accepted Answer

John 16:33“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”Romans 5:3-5We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.Life—even life in Christ—involves struggle. We shouldn’t be surprised by that, but we can be confident that the struggle is worthwhile. Those who have trusted in Christ for salvation can expect eternal life with God.Proverbs 11:23The godly can look forward to a reward, while the wicked can expect only judgment.Hebrews 10:26-27Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.Those who reject God or ignore him can expect eternal judgment.James 1:5-7If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.When we pray, we should be confident and expect that God will hear us and answer us in the way he knows is best for us.Luke 2:25At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him.Philippians 3:20-21We are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.We should live in eager expectation of Christ’s second coming.

Question 2

What are some expectations I should not have?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 10:6They think, “Nothing bad will ever happen to us! We will be free of trouble forever!”Isaiah 33:1What sorrow awaits you Assyrians, who have destroyed others but have never been destroyed yourselves. You betray others, but you have never been betrayed. When you are done destroying, you will be destroyed. When you are done betraying, you will be betrayed.Ezekiel 44:12They encouraged my people to worship idols, causing Israel to fall into deep sin. So I have taken a solemn oath that they must bear the consequences for their sins, says the Sovereign Lord.Galatians 6:7Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.We should not expect to live sinfully and never suffer the consequences.Ecclesiastes 10:8-9When you dig a well, you might fall in. When you demolish an old wall, you could be bitten by a snake. When you work in a quarry, stones might fall and crush you. When you chop wood, there is danger with each stroke of your ax.2 Corinthians 4:11We live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies.2 Corinthians 11:26I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.We should not expect life to be free from danger and risk. In fact, like Paul and his coworkers, we may face certain dangers and take particular risks because we serve Jesus.2 Corinthians 11:7Was I wrong when I humbled myself and honored you by preaching God’s Good News to you without expecting anything in return?We should not expect to be rewarded by others for serving God and obeying him.Esther 6:6The king said, “What should I do to honor a man who truly pleases me?” Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king wish to honor more than me?”Matthew 23:12Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.We should not expect honor for ourselves, or we might be humiliated.Luke 13:26-27“You will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.’”We should not expect to get into heaven by merely knowing about Christ. We must know him personally and trust in him for forgiveness and eternal life.Isaiah 55:8“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”We should not expect God to do things our way.

Expectations