Waiting with Expectation
by Tanya Person
As I write this devotional, I have two daughters who are ready to give birth any day. They are waiting expectantly, noting changes in their body, waiting for the cue that it is time to go to the hospital to give birth. As their mom, I am waiting expectantly also, even though I am not physically near either of them. If my phone rings in the night, I am instantly awake, thinking one of them may be in labor. We had a “false alarm” a few nights ago, when I got a call that one was heading into the hospital. For the next few hours, I would sleep a little and then wake up to check my phone for any updates until I heard that it was too early, and she was going back home.
In Luke 2, Anna was a woman who was waiting expectantly for the Messiah. When she saw Jesus, it says at the end of verse 38, “She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.” Now, all of us, as believers, are waiting for the second coming of the Messiah. He promised He is coming back, and He will keep His promise! But are we waiting with expectation? Sometimes when we are waiting for something, we lose hope that it will happen, and we stop looking forward to it happening.
By the time this is published, both of our daughters should be holding their sons, but we will probably still be waiting for Jesus to return. (If we aren’t still waiting, then I guess this won’t be published!) However, God is encouraging all of us today - do not stop waiting expectantly! Habakkuk is a prophetic book about the end times and in Chapter 2, verse 3, God says, “This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.” God has the time ordained. We need to not lose heart but continue to wait with great expectation! Jesus is coming soon!
Prayer: Lord, help me to be watching and waiting with expectation for Your return. Forgive me if I have let doubt creep in or if I have become complacent. Help me wait with the same expectancy that a mother awaits the birth of her baby, knowing that every moment of waiting just brings her closer to the day that MUST come. I wait for You, Jesus! Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
Tanya Person Tanya and her husband, Jim, were missionaries to Hungary for over 18 years. They have worked with Ellel since 2005. After serving in various positions with Ellel in Central and Eastern Europe, God led them back to the United States, where they are now serving with the Ellel USA team. They have a passion to see leaders restored, the church discipled and walking in God’s fullness of life and freedom, and for mentoring the existing and developing team. Tanya also enjoys crocheting and knitting in her free time and has written some children’s picture books.
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