Leading The Way - Devotional for December 26
December 26, 2025
Unrealistic Expectations
By Michael A. Youssef, Ph.D.
All of us are prone to unrealistic expectations. We may seek a perfect marriage, children who behave at all times, or responsive friends who will drop everything to come to our aid—whatever it is, it is an ideal script we have drafted for our lives. At times we are presumptuous enough to start demanding our way—asking the Church to fulfill all our needs, or worse yet, for God to give us what we want, regardless of His will or plan for our lives.
What is the result of living a life where we expect everyone else to play to our standards of perfection? The irony is that our efforts to force a perfect situation often riddle our lives with problems and conflicts.
These unmet dreams lead to frustration and to discontentment, and we find depression instead of perfection. It seems that the holidays reinforce these unrealistic expectations more than other times.
Many of these expectations stem from comparing ourselves with others. When we tell ourselves, “If only I had what that person has,” we set ourselves up for great disappointment. Whether it is envying someone else’s money, lifestyle, spouse, or career, it only leads to a letdown. But God will never disappoint us. Even in the best of relationships, people will fail us. But God never will. When our expectations are based on the Word of God, we will never be disillusioned.
When we understand that God keeps His promises, we will not worry over being let down. When we recognize God as being both the covenant maker and covenant keeper, we can trust that no matter what twists and turns our lives take, God will not abandon us.
Prayer: Father, forgive me for comparing myself with others. I pray that my expectations would be based on Your Word. Thank You for being faithful to Your promises. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does” (Psalm 145:13).
Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon Marking the New Year: WATCH NOW | LISTEN NOW
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Watch Dr. Michael Youssef on this week's broadcast of Leading The Way at LightSource.com.
