“As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”(Luke 3:15-16 ESV)
Risking Disappointment
As a kid, I had huge expectations at Christmastime. Ask the big guy in the red suit for something, and he delivers, right? So one year, envying my cousins down the street who skated up and down the sidewalk, I wrote “roller skates” on my list.
Then early on Christmas morning I ran into the den and looked under the tree. Since Santa never wrapped our presents, I knew immediately the big guy hadn’t come through. Instead of skates, I got a stack of books.
As the saying goes, “Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he will not be disappointed.”
After all, isn’t it better to face the day with an open heart, free of expectations which might be squashed?
But on the other hand, if we expect nothing, that’s exactly what we’ll get. Nothing.
So I live with expectations. As a teacher, I have high expectations for my students. I expect them to be kind and respectful and to be reading by the end of the year. Low expectations—or no expectations—communicates a lack of confidence in their ability to succeed.
I expect my husband to fulfill our wedding vows. I can expect this because I believe he is trustworthy.
However, humans fall short, don’t we? People disappoint us. We disappoint ourselves. Or we place unreasonable expectations on ourselves and others. But God rewards expectation.
One Who Never Disappoints
God is One who never disappoints. He never breaks His promises. In the Old Testament, we read how God’s people longed for the promised Messiah. They waited for it with anticipation.
Luke chapter 3 tells of a people expecting the Christ. The word for “expectation,” prosdokaō, is also translated “looking for,” or “awaiting.” They didn’t doubt the Christ would arrive, and they were on the lookout, waiting for His appearance.
And God delivered at exactly the right time and place, as the prophets foretold.
Living in Expectation- Simeon and Anna
The account of the birth of Christ in the book of Luke names a couple of people who had expectations. Simeon and Anna spent their lives anticipating the fulfillment of God’s promise, and God rewarded their faith by allowing them to see their heart’s desire in the form of a little baby.
“Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. (Luke 2:25-26 ESV)
“And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:36-38 ESV)
What Can We Expect?
The same God who kept His word and sent a Savior will fulfill His promise and give us eternal life. We will spend eternity with Him. And those believers—the ones we love who left too soon—-we’ll see them again. In the in between time, adversity threatens to destroy the fragile balance that keeps us afloat. Sometimes great waves of sorrow wash over us. Other times, we feel like we’re sinking as a thousand tiny problems peck holes in our precarious existence. But God’s Holy Spirit steadies us with His love and peace.
Reach for More
So I want to be like Simeon and Anna…. living in expectation and believing God keeps the promises He made to us in the Bible. What are you eagerly awaiting this season? Which prayers do you long for God to answer? Write them down, and join me as we hold on to hope and keep our eyes open to see what God will do.
Listen to Come Thou Long Expected Jesus and meditate on its message.
Scripture for Reflection
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23 ESV)
“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:5 NKJV)
Father, keep me living in hope and expectation, never jaded and resigned to disappointment but always watching and waiting for signs of Your goodness. Keep me from treating you like a Santa who fulfills my wishes, but keep me searching Your word so I will know and understand the riches You’ve promised. Amen.
