Fall is a time of new beginnings: fresh starts at school, new sports seasons, a shift in the air. And with new beginnings come expectations.

Some expectations are healthy and energizing, like those tied to an expectant mother or the start of a new venture. Our faith even calls us to live with expectation: trusting in God’s goodness and grace.

But expectations can also burden us. They can lead to disappointment, resentment, or disillusionment. Some people lower their expectations so much that they stop hoping altogether. That’s no way to live.

In this series, we’ll explore the hidden power of expectations, both the ones that weigh us down and the ones that lift us up. We’ll invite our community to examine what they expect from God, others, and themselves, and to let go of the unrealistic and embrace the hope-filled.

WEEK ONE – Unspoken Expectations

We all carry expectations. Some practical, some deeply personal—and they shape how we see our lives, our relationships, and even God. But when those expectations go unspoken or unmet, they can lead to frustration, bitterness, or disillusionment. The Israelites expected comfort and control in the desert and grew resentful when they didn’t get it. In response, God didn’t give them what they wanted. Instead, He gave them what they needed. Likewise, Jesus, lifted up on the Cross, wasn’t the Messiah people expected, but through His sacrifice, God exceeded every expectation. The Cross reframes our assumptions and invites us to surrender our expectations to God’s greater plan.

WEEK TWO – Unrealistic Expectations

Jesus is practical: “You cannot serve both God and money.” When we live with unrealistic expectations, ones rooted in cultural pressure or personal perfectionism, we set ourselves up for disappointment. This week helps uncover those impossible standards so we can release them to God.

WEEK THREE – Wrong Expectations

Some expectations aren’t just unrealistic, they’re flat-out wrong. The rich man in Jesus’ story expected that his wealth would secure his well-being. He was wrong. This week calls out worldly assumptions we carry that lead us off course.

WEEK FOUR – Waiting with Hope

Habakkuk cried out to God in frustration expecting Him to act. God didn’t say no, but He did say, “Wait.” Some of us are waiting too. This week, we’ll talk about how to live in expectation without entitlement, trusting that God’s promises will arrive in His appointed time.

WEEK FIVE – Adjusting Our Expectations to God’s Ways

Naaman expected a grand healing, but God’s method was simple and humbling. It wasn’t until he let go of his expectations that he found healing. Sometimes God works in ways we don’t expect and that’s a good thing.