Reflections of Palm Sunday: What Should We Expect?

Palm Sunday. 

A holy day marking the beginning of Holy Week as Jesus makes His triumphant entrance in to Jerusalem. Fame spread about Jesus being the Messiah King as people line up with palm branches waiting and welcoming their Messiah King while screaming “Hosanna!” (John 12:13). After all, Jesus is coming to save the people from harsh military rule from the Romans and have victory. 

Or so they think...

Yes, Jesus is the savior. Just not the savior they’re expecting. Jesus didn’t come riding on a stallion with war armor ready for battle. Prophecy was told and was fulfilled with a promise in Zachariah 9:9 that the coming savior was going to be riding on riding on a donkey symbolizing peace and humility. This is definitely a far cry from the warrior that they were expecting and even worshipping and soon they’ll realize that Who they were expecting and what He would save them from would be completely different. 

I’ve read this Palm Sunday passage every year and never expected to see that the people worshipping Jesus had unmet expectations of their coming savior (no pun intended). If I could be honest, I typically focus on the weight and glory of Jesus entering in Jerusalem knowing that He would be celebrated and loved by everyone one day and condemned to die by the same people a few days later. 

Looking a the worshippers welcoming Jesus in Jerusalem, I realize that I too deal with unmet expectations. I get a promise and I see God shifting and moving things thinking He’s going to work this specific way in all aspects of my life. I pray, beg, and even try to “help” God for specific outcomes that I believe will be favorable but fall into disappointment when it doesn’t pan out the way I want. 

During some reflection, I had to get really transparent with myself with God’s help. I like control. A lot. I realize that my need to control goes up against God’s reality versus my expectations. It’s a struggle that I face often as a recovering control freak. 

Simply put: Laying down my expectation often looks like a loss of control.

The problem that I find myself running into is seeing that my control and expectation trying to coexist with my proclaimed trust in God. It doesn’t work and either one will win and be on top. 

More and more, I’m realizing how important the word surrender is becoming to me. (Side note: I wrote a very transparent blog post about surrender that you should definitely check out HERE). As a recovering control freak who is learning to trust God even more, it’s a beautiful but ugly word at the same time. Why? It’s reaching for God while trying to rid the flesh. It’s letting go. Not being in control yet remembering that  I’m placing my expectations into the Hands of the the One who knows, understands, and even has the power to transform them into something for my good and for His glory even if it hurst and I have to grieve. 

So, what’s a woman to do? So, what should I expect? How am I supposed to have expectation but none at the same time? The Bible says that we should expect things but expecting the things of God who’s known to be the only One who doesn’t disappoint. Having expectations is important. However, where and Who you place them in the most important. 

I’ve spent YEARS placing expectations on myself, other people, circumstances, and even control. It hasn’t worked out very well. It’s definitely time to do something different. It’s time I lean and expect in God. The story of Jesus life, death, and resurrections gives me hope that even in my unmet expectations, looking to the cross gives life and revival to things seemingly broken and dead and better outcomes that my finite mind can imagine. 

Something for you to think about...

Expectations are a tricky thing because it’s risk for disappointment (I know this all too well). However, if you don’t expect anything, you will get nothing. Everyone is expecting something. What are you expecting? Where and who are you placing your in expectation in? Be honest. Lastly, what unmet or misplaced expectation can you surrender to God. 

Let me know down below.