Set Your Expectations On Needs, Not Wants

Word-Of-The-Day: ‘<Jesus said,> (31) “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ (32) For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. (33) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (34) Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”’ (Matthew 6:31-34)

Often, as I look outside, I see our neighborhood bunny rabbit (who we named ‘Hassenpfeffer’, which is what we call all rabbits in our yard).  He (or she – I’m assuming it’s gender) is out and about chewing on what I believe are weeds.  This rabbit is rather heavy to be in the wild, but knowing that he does not typically eat lettuce or carrots.  We’ve offered both, and they end up food for the raccoons (aka ‘trash pandas’) as the rabbit ignores these gifts.  I don’t believe he’s eating anything of the neighbors’ gifts either, except for perhaps their weeds, as well. 

We normally see him (sometimes with his family or spouse) in the late evening or early morning, and it can be anywhere – backyard, front yard, neighbors’ yards – he makes his rounds.  ‘Ole’ Hass’ is not too scared of us either, as we can usually get within 8-10 feet of him, or he can come up within that range to us without seeming to be concerned.  Despite his somewhat (to me) heavy stature, Hass moves quickly and can run fast when he wants or needs to, but we still are wondering when an owl, or a hawk, or perhaps a bobcat comes to have Hassenpfeffer for dinner. 

Our expectations for what a rabbit does is not necessarily the expectations the rabbit has.  We expect the rabbit to be hungry for the food we toss out to him, but the rabbit is more into the weeds in our yard.  We believe he’s starving but the rabbit, based on appearances, isn’t starving at all.  While it may seem as though the rabbit is defenseless from its predators, it has natural camouflage in the dark colors mixed in its fur and it has the speed and ability to change directions quickly to avoid getting captured. 

It’s limber enough to get under brush, fallen limbs and other obstacles to frustrate those who want to eat it.  I’m certain on occasion a rabbit’s ‘luck’ will run out (despite having a set of rabbit’s feet) and it becomes a tasty treat for some big bird or wild cat, but it may not go down without a fight.  A live rabbit, especially one we recognized for a prolonged period, exceeds our expectations of its survival.

I’m not sure what Old Hassenpfeffer does when he starts his morning as I am not familiar with the daily routines of a wild rabbit.  I am certain Hass does not wake up and think, ‘I hope I can find some grub today; if not I may have to run over to the Yeager’s and get some of that icky lettuce they’ve been tossing at me.’  On the contrary, Hass knows there are plenty of weeds that God has provided for him to eat heartily. 

Even while it has not rained significantly over the last couple of weeks, the morning dew has been enough, along with the humidity in the air, to keep the weeds alive for Hass and the other creatures in our area to eat and get water from.  Also, Hass apparently has a condo somewhere in the neighborhood; he did not have to pull a permit to build it and it may have been already built for him.  An uprooted tree, or branches covered with pine needles making a cubby hole that he can relax in at night. 

Jesus says we should be of the mindset of the wild animals, like the rabbit, to trust that God will provide our needs.  But our expectations should also fall within those needs, not within our ‘wants’.  Sometimes, our expectations aren’t like a rabbit’s; he only is expecting his needs to be met, for there to be weeds for him to eat, water for him to drink, shelter to sleep in, and be healthy enough to evade his predators.  We know Jesus will bless us, but we are often told, erroneously, that we’ll always be happy or we’ll always enriched with wealth.  We can expect blessings, and Jesus promises this.  However, His blessings for us are in the Joy, or the contentment of our lives, and the Hope, or the future in eternity, we have in Him. 

Often our expectations are exceeded, and our blessings overflow with good health, great relationships with friends and family, and even enough wealth to live comfortably.  But do one’s blessings of these things mean those who may not have any or all of these things condemn them?  No!  All are blessed according to their needs, and in the sufficiency of the Lord’s Grace.  As in the example of the rabbits, why does one rabbit enjoy a long life with plenty of resources while another rabbit ends up on the dinner menu of a bobcat? 

Sometimes our blessing is to be an example of the strength of our Faith in Jesus; or an example of how we need to be during a time of struggle, to others who may eventually suffer a similar affliction.  One life may be used by the Lord to provide an example of His hands at work in good times, while another life may used by the Lord as an example of his work when times aren’t so pleasant.

Also, sometimes, our troubles allow another to stand up and be blessed in providing help.  The bobcat in the above example may have been starving, and the Lord allow that rabbit to cross his path at that time to give the bobcat a meal.  We may suffer a need that requires help, and the person who helps us may need to act to reassure themselves that they are needed and appreciated.  Sometimes we may not need the help, but be appreciative of those who offer.  Always know that Jesus will provide, that our needs will be met – not always as we want or expect them, but in His perfect timing!