The Posture of Expectancy

Yesterday during a discussion with a group of ladies concerning trusting God in our lives, I posed this question:  “Why is it that we so often pray for God to do something (many of us for years), believe on so many levels that He will do it, and yet find ourselves having a difficult time accepting that it is actually happening when things start to take place/change?” 

At some point, the thing we believe God will do comes into present tense.  Therefore, we can’t always keep our minds focused on the future.  We must be able to be expectant that God will move at any given moment, yet also be able to stand the test of time, and wait on His timing—with endurance and patience if need be.  This expectant hope that rests in God’s timing is our posture of expectancy. 

Why should we keep a posture of expectancy?

1.       It protects our hearts, and keeps them in line with God’s plan, His timing, and His way.

Proverbs 13:12 states, 

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” (NIV)

Gill’s Exposition gives this commentary on this verse (emphasis mine):

“Hope deferred maketh the heart sick...That is, the object hoped for; if it is not enjoyed so soon as expected, at least if it is delayed any length of time, the mind becomes uneasy, the heart sinks and fails, and the man is dispirited and ready to despond, and give up all hope of enjoying the desired blessing; whether it be deliverance from any evil, or the possession of any good…” 

I believe many of us, if we are truthful, can attest to this in some aspect of our lives at some point.  It may be for a season; it may be for a moment.  This occurs when we move from expectancy to expectation—meaning when we move from hoping to see something at any moment but being willing to wait in God’s time frame, to believing that God must do something (i.e. what we want & in the way we want) right now.  We move from hoping in the Lord to placing a demand on His timing, will, and plan.  We forfeit our hope in God for our hope in our own plans and dreams. 

We must be able to identify that we have moved from expectancy to expectation.  From there we must ask for forgiveness and place our trust and hope back in God’s mighty hands.  He is the One that gives us the strength for the journey.  He is faithful to show us how to rest in that posture of expectancy if we simply ask and follow His leading.

Gill’s Exposition goes on to discuss:

“but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life; when that which is hoped and wished for, and has been long expected and desired, comes; when there is an accomplishment of men's wishes, it is as grateful to him as the tree of life was in Eden's garden; it gives him an unspeakable pleasure and delight”. “…though not deferred longer than the appointed time, yet longer than the saints expected, and which sometimes made their hearts sick; they became weak and feeble, fearful and dispirited, lest it should never come to pass, which occasioned fresh promises and assurances to them;”

We wait with a posture of expectancy because when our longing is fulfilled, it will mean more to us than had we never had to wait and pray so fervently for it.  We must remember that we wait with a posture of expectancy because at God’s appointed time, things will come to pass.  What a moment!

As we wait for that moment of fulfillment, He will assure us along the way with fresh Words and what I love to call “God winks.”  Remember that Christ became man and walked on this earth.  He knows us.  He knows our hearts.  He knows that “sometimes” we will grow weary.  Those moments “occasion fresh promises and assurances” from our Lord to us.  Knowing that He loves us more than we could fathom, that He has experienced the same feelings, and that He wants you to experience the fulfillment of His promise even more than you do—doesn’t it align with His character that He would continue to spur you on throughout the journey? 

I can testify to you from my own personal experience that He is faithful to do this!  In my own particular journey, He has spurred me on more than I could account.  God has not allowed me to let go of certain promises and desires….sometimes, no matter how much I wanted or begged.  I know without a doubt, however, that the fulfillment of those promises will be greater than any hurt, any pain, any ache, any tears, and any frustrations I have experienced along the way. 

“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” (Psalm 126:5 NIV)

“The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.” (I Thessalonians 5:24)

2.       It allows us to be prepared for the realities of what happens when our promise is fulfilled.

When our promise is fulfilled, it will be an amazing moment of joy! But with that moment of joy also comes real life.  We don’t live in a book or movie where the wayward son comes home, the wife overcomes her addiction, the man finds the woman he loves, the daughter overcomes her body struggles and then everyone lives happily ever after.  As amazing as it will be to see God’s promises come to fruition (or at least for steps to be made toward that point), at that moment we then face new challenges, new possibilities.  If we are not prepared for what those look like, we are setting ourselves up for failure and heartache.  

We must ask ourselves, “Am I living and preparing myself right now as if God would answer my prayer today?”