When Life Doesn’t Live Up to Expectations (and What to Do About It)

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Have you ever been disappointed? Maybe you were looking forward to a fun vacation—and it wasn’t fun. Or it might have been something bigger—a new job, a move, or even a marriage that didn’t measure up to your hopes for it. When things don’t turn out the way we expect, it’s easy to spiral. In this video and podcast episode, I talk about 4 steps to take when life doesn’t live up to expectations.

What You’ll Learn

• Why unrealistic expectations are so common (and harmful)
• How expectations contribute to discouragement, anger, and discontentment
• A simple 4-step process to respond when life disappoints you
• How to shift from a cultural mindset to a biblical perspective
• How to use Scripture meditation to renew your mind

If you’ve ever struggled with disappointment, discontentment, or feeling like life should be better than it is—this will help.

Scripture Focus

Proverbs 3:5–6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”

What this looks like in real life:

• I give an example of how to renew your mind for unmet expectations by meditating on this Scripture passage. We’ll take it one phrase at a time and I’ll use my own example of a recent writing retreat that didn’t turn out as I expected.

Practical Reflection Questions

• What expectations did I have in this situation?
• Were those expectations realistic?
• What do I need to accept right now?
• How might God want me to respond?
• What truth do I need to replace my current thinking?

Helpful Resources

• The Renewing of the Mind Project (questions to guide your thinking)
• Focus sections to try:
  • Disappointment
  • Failure
  • Perfectionism
  • Hopelessness
  • Reward/Obsession

How to Listen to This Podcast Episode

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• Listen or subscribe on Spotify.
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