January 6

Waiting Expectantly

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 5:1-3 | Genesis 13:6 – 15:21 | Matthew 5:27-48 | Proverbs 1:29 – 33

Today’s Scripture Focus: Psalms 5:1-3

In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly (Psalms 5:3 NIV).

We all know the struggle the Psalmist describes. We pray and pray and wonder if God is listening. We lay our requests before the Lord and wait eagerly for the answer.

Waiting with expectation is the difficult but necessary condition of the heart that would get the ear of God. It demonstrates our faith in the unseen promises despite the circumstances we see. It reveals the kind of faith God delights in and rewards: persevering faith. “Without faith it is impossible to please God. Because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

We don’t like to wait. And the waiting is made even more difficult when our expectations are not being met (at least not on our time table). Sometimes God makes us wait expectantly for a long time. It is easy to become disappointed in the process. It often seems easiest to just give up. The Psalmist refuses to give up. He continues to look up with eager expectation.

God will not always meet our expectations. Sometimes he has other plans, and in those times disappointment can seem overwhelming. We can become angry and bitter. Sometimes we lash out at God. We sometimes try to run away.

But when God does not meet our expectations, it is because he has other plans—better plans. That does not mean they will be the plans we desire—and some of the best roads are the most difficult roads—but they will be best. The things that can cause us to become angry and bitter are meant to make us grow and become better. The greatest opportunity for growth comes in the times when we “walk in the dark” and the only hand we can hold on to is God’s. Sometimes, even his hand is hard to find. But he is there even in the long, lonely dark night of the soul.

Wait expectantly. Wait eagerly. Don’t become discouraged by the wait.  Don’t become disappointed when your hopes are not met. God often has eternal purposes for things that we cannot see. He is good and he loves you—and whatever plans he has for you are bound to be better than anything you could ever hope for.

Patient Heavenly Father, remind me that my waiting is not in vain. Fill me with patient expectation and help me not to give up hope. Hear me as I wait upon you. Amen.