Great Expectations

Have you ever seen the show "The Office"?

I sincerely hope so because, if not, these next few paragraphs are going to go straight over your head.

The Office is one of my favorite comedy t.v. shows. It works on so many levels and I'm a huge fan of dry humor.. but all of that is besides the point. I just want to take a moment to discuss Jim and Pam's relationship.

So, Jim and Pam were like the PERFECT couple for seasons 4-8. They were the epitome of relationship goals, but they started out pretty rocky. For instance, Pam was engaged to another guy, who buy the way was so mean to her!, and Jim had this great big crush on her. Then Jim kissed Pam, and Pam told Jim she was still going to marry Roy (her fiance), then Jim transferred to another branch (oh yeah, this all takes place in an office) and Pam called off the wedding, and then Jim came BACK to Scranton (the town that the office takes place in) but he came with  a girlfriend! so Pam has this crush on Jim, Jim has a girlfriend.. and the roles are completely reversed. then some other stuff happens.. yada yada yada.. and Jim breaks it off with his girlfriend and asks Pam out for a date. that's how the relationship started. PHEW! ain't that crazy!

Anyways, their relationship is great for about 4 seasons. They are written to be two madly in love individuals. But then, for the last season, one of the writers from season 1 (and 2.. I think) comes back to help write the final season, and he makes Pam and Jim have issues. They end up in marriage counseling and end up going through some pretty hard stuff..

Needless to say, I was disappointed. I mean, Pam and Jim's potential demise in their marriage was great for ratings, but I wanted the power couple to stay happy forever. And then I realized how I truly felt about the show. In the first few seasons, I was heartbroken for them because they couldn't seem to get things right, and the writers did a really good job of showing their feelings! Honestly, I may have teared up every single time Jim and Pam were on the screen. Then, once they got together, I was overjoyed (albeit, kind of bored because the show lost some tension there) over their relationship.. and then they started fighting, and I was disappointed (also sad) again because I just wanted them to have their happy ever after!

Life is a lot like that, isn't it? You go through a season where you are overjoyed and completely happy and have every aspect of your life figured out, then you go through a dry season where everything falls apart and you have no clue what to do, and then you'll hit a stretching season where you are both overjoyed and depressed and just know that you need to push through whatever you're doing.. and the cycle repeats itself, in no particular order, with some other seasons mixed in. It's exhausting.

Right now, I'm in a tough, stretching season. I am currently working two jobs, plus an internship. I worry about money more than I would like to admit. My heart is constantly breaking for the people around me who haven't found Jesus yet, and for the one's who have and get hated for it and I feel like I'm just now learning how to pray, for all of these things. The worst thing that has been on my heart for a while now is friendships.

I value relationships on this earth more than anything. People influence my everyday life more than I would like to admit..and lately.. I've been getting my own heart broken by the people I am closest to.

It's such a disappointing this because growing up, I expected to have these amazing friendships that I wouldn't trade for the world, and yet, here I am, feeling hurt by something someone has said, or by a gesture someone has done,, or hasn't done for that matter. And for a while, I was lost, asking God, "Why? Why are you taking away my relationships?"

It took a while for me to officially hear His voice, but eventually He told me it's because He is the best friend/father/brother/mentor that I could have.

See, I've been putting my friends and family on a pedestal, expecting them to be perfect. To always ask me how I'm feeling, to show me that they care about me. But the fact of the matter is, they don't owe that to me. They don't owe anything to me.

Isaiah 2:22 says, "Stop trusting other people to save you. Do not think too highly of them; they are only humans who have not stopped breathing yet."

This world isn't perfect, and neither are the people that live in it. We don't belong here. This isn't our home.

Yes, we'll be faced with so many disappointments in our lives, but those will also be followed by incredible victories all because we are created by an ever-loving God. A God who loves us so much more in a moment than anyone could in a lifetime. A God who wants what's best for us. A God who is our best friend.

I hope that comforts you :)