How To Deal With Unmet Expectations
A lesson from an often neglected Old Testament prophet
The Struggle with Waiting
I've never been patient. Especially when I've been promised something, as the waiting is agonizing. While waiting, I can create my own expectations around what was promised. Unmet expectations can result in doubt. These doubts can quickly turn into anger, frustration and resentment. This cycle of expectation, disappointment, and doubt is something I've wrestled with time and again, and I suspect I'm not alone in this struggle.
(Source: Horne, Charles, and Julius Bewer. The Bible and Its Story: Prophets–Gospels, Ezekiel to Matthew Family Record. Vol. 8. New York, NY: Francis R. Niglutsch, 1909.)
The Promise and the Silence
Today, we turn to the final chapter in the Old Testament, Malachi 4. The Old Testament leaves us with a faithful promise from God, that He would right all that is wrong with both justice and mercy. This promise stands as a beacon of hope, a divine commitment that speaks to our deepest longings for restoration and redemption. However, after Malachi 4, there is a period of silence, typically referred to as the "silent years," which lasted about 400 years! Four centuries without a prophetic voice, without new revelation, without fresh words from heaven.
Can you imagine what it would have been like to hear a promise and then be left in silence for 400 years? If you are like me, you may begin to doubt both the promise and promise-maker.
The human heart struggles with silence, especially when it follows such powerful declarations of God's faithfulness.
During those long centuries, I imagine countless believers questioned whether God had forgotten His people, whether His promises were merely poetic language wrapped up in hypothetical possibilities, rather than divine commitment.
Instructions for the Wait
Yet, Malachi did not leave the Israelites without instruction for the years of silence. In his prophetic wisdom, he understood that silence doesn't mean absence, and waiting doesn't mean abandonment. In fact, these instructions apply to us today with remarkable relevance. Many of us can relate to seasons of silence. We can all relate to patiently waiting for the final return of Jesus, living in the tension between the "already" and the "not yet" of God's kingdom.
Let's look at the two very important instructions Malachi gives for navigating these seasons of waiting:
1. Fear the name of the Lord. If we view God rightly, we will think about Him rightly. If we think about Him rightly, we will act in a way that reflects what we know to be true about God. It all starts with having a deep reverence for God and understanding His majesty and might. This isn't the cowering fear of a child hiding from an abusive parent, but the awe-struck reverence of someone who suddenly grasps the magnificence of the one they're standing before. How amazing is it to consider that this majestic and mighty God showed His love to us first, that we may love Him in return. (1 John 4:19) The God who commands our reverence is the same God who pursues us with relentless love.
2. Remember the Law. Remembrance is a constant theme throughout the story of the Scriptures, appearing like a golden thread woven through the tapestry of the narrative of humanity. God, in His divine wisdom, tells us to remember the Law because the Law teaches us how we, as image bearers of God, are to act and represent Him. This isn't about legalistic rule-following, but about understanding our identity and calling as people made in God's image. The law is a diagnostic tool that ultimately reminds us of our great need for King Jesus.
God originally gave the Law to the Israelites as a standard for living as one made in the image and likeness of God. By living to this standard, they were set apart from all the other nations and served as a missional outpost amongst all the nations, pointing all people to the goodness of God. They were meant to be a living demonstration of what it looks like when people align their lives with God's character and purposes.
Their distinctiveness wasn't meant to create superiority, but to create curiosity – causing other nations to wonder about the God who produced such a people.
In the Old Testament, the Law was given and passed down through the generations through oral tradition, creating a legacy of faithfulness that transcended individual lifespans. The prophet Jeremiah promised one day the Law would be written on the hearts of God's people. (Jeremiah 31:33) This wasn't merely about memorization or external compliance, but about internal transformation. This was made possible because of the victory of Jesus on the cross. Jesus promised us a helper, the Holy Spirit who would dwell within the believer and in doing so, the Spirit of God writes the law of the Lord on the hearts of His covenant people, His family. (Romans 2:15; Hebrews 10:16) What was once external command becomes internal compass.
Waiting in Hope
As we wait in eager anticipation for the final return of the Lord, we can wait in hope of the glorious day when all wrongs will be made right, and every sorrow will be wiped away by the splendid presence of God Himself. This waiting isn't passive resignation but active hope – hope that sustains us through the silence, hope that keeps us faithful during the in-between times. Yet, while we wait, let's do so with sincere reverence and remembrance, knowing that our waiting has purpose and our silence has meaning.
Digging Deeper: Understanding Biblical "Fear"
Often when we read the Bible, we begin to define words based on our assumptions or past experiences, which in turn affects how we interpret Scripture. For instance, today we turn to the final chapter of the Old Testament. What a monumental moment! We get to verse two and we may pause because it seems like the prophet Malachi is actually asking us to "fear" the name of God. Why would he want us to fear a loving God? Further, how could it be possible that by fearing the name of God, the result would be healing and joy?
First, we have to understand that the Hebrew word used in verse two for "fear" is (yā·rē) יָרֵא and the essence of this word does not necessarily start at terror but actually reverence. So, fearing the name of God is to have reverence for God because of His majesty and magnitude. Malachi is helping us to see a juxtaposition of two types of people. Those who show irreverence to God will experience the justice of God. (Malachi 4:1) However, those who show Him reverence and submit to His Kingship will experience His mercy. The choice is ours, and the stakes couldn't be higher.
What if humility is the key to the peace that we all long for?
In this six-session video Bible study (video access included), pastor and Proverbs 31 Ministries theologian Dr. Joel Muddamalle draws lessons hidden in the book of Judges to reveal how making less of ourselves is the secret to living the good life that God promises.
Humility may be the single most underestimated virtue. In fact, it’s the key to security, strength, and confidence and opens the door to allow us to rely on God's limitless resources.
Join Dr. Joel Muddamalle on this study of Judges that will give you a true understanding of the power of biblical humility and help you see the unexpected ways God can work in your life.
As I was reading through the intro, I thought to myself, "it'd be great to have a discussion of how we should understand the word 'fear' in this context." And that's just what you did! Thank you for this.
Thank you, Joel!
A timely word for this season of life.