Entitlement will keep you from God’s best.

Entitlement is birthed from pride. Entitlement is operating under the delusion that you deserve something you’ve not earned. Entitlement and expectation are different because entitlement comes with an arrogance where as expectation comes with a humility. Entitlement says, “You owe me.” Expectation says, “I’m depending on you.” Entitlement isn’t necessarily evil but for the most part people who operate in entitlement think they have rights to something they don’t just because of special privilege or tenure, therefore entitlement takes advantage of people. I’ve seen people who operate in entitlement use others as a resource rather than build relationship. Expectation has a built-in relationship with it. When you’re entitled you think people do what you want because they owe you but when you operate in expectation it’s because of a relationship you’ve invested in.

What happens when people let you down? What happens when people don’t live up to your expectations? Easy, lower your expectations. I’ve found that when I have high expectations on a person I’m inevitably let down. Why? Because people are flawed and broken. When we live in the light of the truth of humanity then it’s easier to not be let down when someone doesn’t live up to your expectations. AND it’s easier to have grace for those who feel entitled. Again because because people are flawed and broken. Entitlement is birthed out of pride, the original sin. So of course there will be brokenness and sin coming from it.

What about when God doesn’t meet our expectations? Again easy. We need to change our expectations. Just because God doesn’t answer one of our fleshly, fantasy prayers, it doesn’t mean He’s let us down.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. -Isaiah 55:9 NKJV

God sometimes doesn’t answer our prayers because HE knows what we need. He is a good Father and He will answer those prayers that align for His perfect will for our lives. So we don’t lower our expectations on God or our prayers but maybe, just maybe we change them. The spirit of expectation is something we must always have. Looking to God is our only hope in this life. People will sorely disappoint us but God will always carry us. Expectation has a mighty faith that comes along with it.

Let’s challenge ourselves this week to not walk around all big-headed and entitled, as if people owe us something but instead keep our expectations on people low and our faith in God high. You’ll find when you do this that your soul (mind, will, and emotions) will be healthier because your hope is in the Lord, not people.

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth. -Psalm 122:1-2 NKJV

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Please leave your thoughts if you feel led and let’s continue the conversation! May God bless you!