Realistic ExpectationsRealistic Expectations
The Debbie Chavez Show » Podcasts
Sarah and Debbie talk about setting realistic expectations for believers, non-believers, yourself, and God, using scripture and everyday examples. The conversation lightens perfectionist pressure and points toward a steadier, more peaceful walk of faith.
35:18•24 Apr 2026
Realistic Expectations: Letting Go of Perfection and Finding Peace
Episode Overview
- Drop the fantasy checklists for spouses, children, and yourself, or you will keep feeling disappointed and overwhelmed.
- Expect fellow believers to show small but real signs of growth, not flawless behaviour, and choose to focus on what is good in them.
- With non-believers, aim for gracious responses and firm but loving boundaries rather than shock that they don’t share Christian values.
- Give yourself grace for ongoing struggles while still putting steady effort into spiritual growth through God’s word and prayer.
- Hold to realistic promises from God: his presence, forgiveness, loving discipline, guidance, and his ability to bring good from painful seasons.
“"It's like a crockpot. You got to wait a long time before dinner is done. It's not like a microwave, people."”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? For many Christian women, it starts with adjusting expectations of themselves, their families, and God. This episode of The Debbie Chavez Show, now Squadron of Sisters, zooms in on "Realistic Expectations" with co-hosts Sarah and Debbie chatting candidly, Bible in hand and humour firmly intact.
The conversation starts with the mental checklists so many women carry: the perfect husband who never snaps or smells, the always-cheerful, ultra-obedient children, the income-earning, homeschooling, ever-romantic superwife. As Debbie puts it, "Oh my goodness, you will set yourself up for failure." From there, they gently dismantle these fantasies using scripture and everyday examples.
You’ll hear practical guidance on what to reasonably expect from fellow believers: small signs of growth rather than perfection, room for mistakes, and a long-term view of spiritual change. Sarah and Debbie point to verses like Romans 15 and Colossians 3 to show how bearing with others, forgiving, and "looking for the gold" in people can shift frustration into peace.
They then contrast this with expectations of non-believers, reminding listeners that those who don’t follow Jesus won’t necessarily share Christian values. Instead of outrage, they suggest gracious boundaries and surprising kindness, backed up with passages like Romans 12 and 2 Timothy 3. The most comforting section may be the one on realistic expectations for yourself and for life with God.
Paul’s struggle in Romans 7 reassures anyone who feels stuck in repeated mistakes, while Galatians 6 and 2 Corinthians 3 encourage gradual growth rather than overnight perfection.
Debbie and Sarah also highlight God’s steady character: he forgives, guides, disciplines in love, and "will bring something good out of every difficult or heartbreaking situation." For women dealing with anxiety, relationship strain, or addiction-related fallout, this conversation offers a calm reset: what if changing your expectations is the first step to real peace?
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