Genesis 41:39-40

Expectations vs. Reality

“Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.” (Genesis 41: 39-40)

There’s a scene in the movie (500) Days of Summer that juxtaposes expectations vs. reality. I feel like we live life this way, constantly disappointed when our reality and expectations are misaligned. When our dreams are so grandiose that they could never possibly become real. But God’s been showing me that we should really be thinking in the opposite way.

Joseph had a dream that his family would one day be under his authority. In reality, the entirety of Egypt was given to him because of his faithfulness to God’s wisdom. When we’re listening to God and following His plan with a discerning and wise heart, constantly in submission to his will, we are welcomed into the possibility of a reality that exceeds our expectations. When we align our dreams with Gods, He is able to give us more than we could imagine for our life.

That’s my prayer this week: that God’s reality would be greater than my dreams could ever possibly be. That His perfect will would be so much better than my expectations.