Letting Go of Expectations to Embrace God’s Best

We often live under the weight of expectations—our own, others, or what we assume God requires. These expectations can quietly steal our joy, bind us in fear of failure, and leave us feeling like we’re never enough. But what if we were never meant to carry them? What if the fullness of life God offers doesn’t come from striving, but from surrender?

One of the most freeing truths we can embrace is that we are not responsible for controlling outcomes—only for being faithful. Expectations are often rooted in control. We expect ourselves to meet impossible standards, or we expect others to fulfill needs only God can satisfy. When things don’t go as planned, we feel disappointed, bitter, or stuck in cycles of comparison. But God invites us to release these burdens and trust that His plans are better than ours.

Letting go doesn’t mean apathy—it means realigning our hearts with God's rhythm of grace. It’s waking up each day and saying, “Lord, I trust You more than my timeline, my to-do list, or my assumptions about what should be.” It’s finding joy not in perfection but in presence—in walking with God and being present with others, even when things don’t look the way we imagined.

The apostle Paul reminds us of this powerful truth in Ephesians 3:20 (NIV):"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us..."When we loosen our grip on expectations, we open our hands to receive the immeasurably more that God longs to give. It might not look like what we pictured—but it will be richer, deeper, and more beautiful than anything we could’ve scripted.

So today, let’s choose trust over control. Let’s trade striving for surrender. And let’s enjoy the abundant, unpredictable, joy-filled life God has prepared for us—no expectations attached.

Much love to you!

Jennifer

This post is a follow-up to our latest episode on More Than Small Talk;

you can listen to it on your favorite podcast app!