For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Cor 5:7 (NKJV)
PART 1 – Great Expectation
I’ve been listening to a new podcast called “Invisibilia” which all you neuroscience buffs will love. Go check it out.
“How to Become Batman” is a recent episode where the hosts look at a study done by a Psychologist named Bob Rosenthal.
Late one night Bob snuck into his lab and posted signs on the rat’s cages. On some of the cages, he hung signs that read “smart” and on the others he hung ones that read “dumb”.
The next day he asked the researchers to run the rats through mazes and test their times. Some would get the “smart” rats and others would get the “dumb” rats.
The thing was, they were all just generic lab rats; none really different from the other, however, the results they garnered were nothing short of astounding.
The rats labelled “smart” completed their mazes 50% faster than the “dumb” rats even though they were all the same.
Bob repeated this test over and over only to discover similar results with each test.
What Bob discovered in his study is that when you think a rat is smart, you treat it more gently. Subtle movements that the rat subconsciously responds too.
There've been many studies since that prove that a teacher’s expectation can raise or lower a student’s IQ. A parent’s expectation can influence whether a child turns to drinking or not. And a Military Trainer’s expectation can make a soldier faster or slower.
When our expectations of another person are lower, we tend to subtly change the way we interact with them. We stand further away. Smile, talk or engage them less. Or perhaps stand with our back turned.
These signs might seem subtle, but the message they send is like a river full of expectancy. Or faith, one might say.
No matter how broken, dirty or unattractive we are, God’s expectation for each one of us is filtered through the lens of eternity. Not judging on what He sees but what He has faith for.
So it is with those around us. When we use our faith to look at others, we handle them differently, thus inspiring them to respond in a new way.
Today, use your faith, not your sight, to filter your expectation of others.
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