Is it today? That is the question that those who live with a sense of expectancy ask. God expects us to live daily in expectation. “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” (Psalm 5:3, NIV84) The dictionary defines expect as “to look forward to; regard as likely to happen; anticipate the occurrence or the coming of.”
In the Gospels we see people who expected. “Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him.” (Luke 8:40, NIV84) This word expecting speaks to a sense of waiting with the tension of the unknown. It speaks of looking for and hoping in God. When people expect, and that which they were expecting arrives, they welcome him (Jesus). Those who expect are eager and hopeful and excited about the future they are expecting.
It is this same sense of expectancy that the beggar had when he received. “When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.” (Acts 3:3–10, NIV84) Expectancy seems to open doors to possibilities.
Recently I ordered something that I really wanted. I could not wait for the item to arrive. I was excited. I spent time thinking about how I would use the item when it arrived. Each day I checked the mail looking for the item. When the item was not in the mail, I thought – perhaps tomorrow. I knew that my item would come because I had ordered it. I expected it because I had paid for it. I expected it to arrive because the seller was trustworthy. Yet, each day that it did not arrive, I felt a pang of disappointment followed by the thought that I was one day closer to having my item. Perhaps tomorrow would be the day, I thought.
What would have happened if I had quit expecting my item to arrive? I would have quit looking for it each day. I would have quit thinking about how I would use it. I would quit anticipating the effect it would have on my life. Losing expectancy would be a little like shutting the mailbox door and not allowing the package to come. If I quit looking for it, I would quit checking each day to see if it arrived. If it did arrive, how would I know, because I was not looking for it?
In the Hebrew, expect speaks of watching and waiting. It is watching closely. God expects us to ask and then expect. “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” (Psalm 5:3, NIV84) Even when things may be difficult, we watch for what the Lord will do. “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.” (Micah 7:7, NIV84) Habakkuk learned that he should expect that God will answer. “I will stand on my guard post And station myself on the rampart; And I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me,.” (Habakkuk 2:1, NASB95)
Jesus wants us to expect to receive from Him when we ask.
“For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:8, NIV84)
“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”” (Matthew 21:22, NIV84)
“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” (John 16:24, NIV84)
When we pray in accordance with God’s Word, we should expect that God will honor His Word and we will receive. Asking and receiving is a demonstration of faith. There is a long history of people who asked and received. “And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection.” (Hebrews 11:32–35, NIV84)
Has God spoken and promised? Then expect that He is faithful. The promise will come.
An expectant heart knows that God is faithful to His Word. “Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.” (Psalm 119:140, NIV84)
An expectant heart rejoices in the promise and the hope of the promise even before receiving the promise. “I rejoice in your promise like one who finds great spoil.” (Psalm 119:162, NIV84)
An expectant heart knows that Christ is the fulfillment of every promise. “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:20, NIV84)
Today, I choose to keep expecting. For the promises that I still wait for, I will sit at the feet of Jesus and ask, “Is it today?” I will check. I will look. I will search. I will trust and wait knowing that everything God has promised, He will do. I will keep rejoicing in the goodness of God. I know that each moment that passes is a moment closer to receiving what has been promised. I will bring glory to God by expecting that with I have not yet received. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1, NIV84)
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