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(Just as I was getting ready to post today's Lenten Reflection, I noticed that I had not posted Saturday's. So, I will post both of them now, with my apologies. Thank you.)

Ecclesiastes 7:20 For sure there is not a right and good man on earth who always does good and never sins.

“What did you expect?”

I can remember saying that as a Mom to my sons many times. It was a saying based on the maturity of knowing how things work and the fact that – at least in some cases – one thing will quite logically lead to another and the outcome can be anticipated.

Of course, it doesn’t always work out that way and sometimes it is our expectations that can get us into trouble. Like the expectation that things will stay the way that they have been – that they will not change, they will work the same as they have in the past.

Both types of expectations can be frustrating:

There’s the frustration of not foreseeing the consequences of a decision even though it should have been anticipated.

There’s also the frustration of expecting things to work the way they have in the past and when they don’t, that is something that cannot be anticipated.

I wonder how often God says to me, “what did you expect?” with regard to my expectations and my decisions based on them. How often does He shake His head at my expectations and anticipations for things that are less than His best? Again, in either case He is looking out for me and waiting for me to surrender my will to His.

Father God, I surrender to You today, as I believe I need to do everyday and ask that “Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven” – Your will be done in my body, my heart, my mind, and my life as it is in Heaven. May I be Your vessel, for Your use, rather than going my own way and seeking my own desires, for I know that Your way is the way of Life. Through Christ I pray, Amen.

Psalm 16:11 You will make known to me the way of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.