Back In the Water

"This is less about baptism and more about you releasing your false expectations,” is what the Lord spoke through His Prophet Destiny as she prayed over me in the pool.

Hey, Prayer closet warriors! Welcome back for another vulnerable and fully transparent post.

Initially, I had no intention of getting into the water for baptism in Bali. However, I heard the Lord say, “change and get in.” I rocked back and forth because I wanted to ensure I heard Him correctly… I’m used to Him informing me weeks in advance, either through a vision or a dream, not spontaneously.

I responded, “Ok, Abba, but who’s going to watch Jiraiya? The moment he sees me step into the pool, he’s going to try to jump in after me.” Just then, JJ nudged me and said, “Mommy, I want to go sit on the couch.” I walked him up the stairs and seated him next to my sister Caresa. I whispered, “Can you watch him? I have to get in.” She replied, “Of course.”

So, what are expectations? They are a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future.

But what happens when our expectations become false? Unfortunately, we set ourselves up. This can lead to feelings of disappointment, frustration, and even anger. We elevate our hopes based on a false premise or a misreading of what God never intended. Often, we unconsciously set these expectations. When they go unfulfilled and the feelings set in, we tend to direct our blame towards something or someone (like God).

Proverbs 13 verse 12 says,

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”

Reflecting on this scripture, it dawned on me: our hearts become sick when we’ve placed our hope in the wrong thing. When we desire something intensely, we focus on it and yearn for it. If that aspiration is unmet, the longing intensifies to the point of obsession, especially if events don't unfold as we anticipated. Subsequently, this unmet expectation burdens our hearts. Without relief or resolution, we may completely lose hope.

Not everything on my vision boards has come to pass yet. For a time, I dismissed the possibility of somethings ever happening because I imposed my own notions of how they should happen. God was asking me to Release my preconceptions and trust in what He told me, without overthinking the process. Ultimately boiling down to me asking myself, do I still have faith in His plan?

As you reflect on the other part of this scripture, pause for a moment to consider the desires that God has already fulfilled in your life. How did those experiences make you feel? There's something truly exhilarating and invigorating about a desire that has been fulfilled; it uplifts and rejuvenates the soul. However, it comes with truly pursuing God's will rather than our own.

Truly, only God knows what’s in a man’s heart. He discerned what was in mine and instructed me to let it all go. If it means being baptized a thousand times over, lead me to the water! My only desire is to align with my Father and fulfill His purpose for me and those He’s called to me.

It's common knowledge that our expectations significantly shape our life experiences. Yet, paradoxically, as believers, we often expect both too much and too little. We must discern what deserves less expectation and what merits more. This means tempering our hopes about life's perceived entitlements while heightening our expectations of Christ and His ongoing work within us.

Oh yeah, while I was in the pool, Jiraiya didn't even notice! He was just chilling beside Caresa with his iPad having himself a good ol time. I even walked past him to change my clothes. Funny how things turn out! Listen, The lord did that lol

I hope this post touched and blessed you. Sending love to you all!