The 180 Church Podcast with Dr. Sammy and Friends

Expectations, whether big or small, define our lives. To our dismay, our lives often don’t go according to our expectations. Time and time again, we wrestle with expectations that are placed on us and that we have of others, and we agonize over the delays, disappointments, and comparisons, even to the point of criticizing ourselves for struggling with our struggles. However, the gospel is good news because God understands that in our humanity we struggle with expectations. The process of faith can at times feel awful, but in our surrender to his sovereignty, we can take a deep breath knowing beauty and redemption await at the other end of his call, as they did from the Crucifixion to the Resurrection.

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Matthew 26: 36-46

36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”