ANTICIPATION

Have you ever wanted something so much so that the wait seems to be killing you? Anticipation at times is good but at other times it can become all consuming and not good at all.

An example of good anticipation...

Today, I had the wonderful privilege of distributing the Lord's Supper to one of the shut-in members of my congregation.  This elderly lady, Marie, is always so gracious and kind. We have wonderful visits and this visit was no exception. Near the end of the visit I lead her through a brief order of service and administered the Sacrament. This is a moment that Marie waits for with baited breath. 

As we move through the service, I can see the anticipation on her face.  She becomes wide-eyed and appears almost as if she were a child awaiting a gift of candy or some other wonderful thing. She  eagerly awaits the absolution that is proclaimed to her following the confession of sins. When she hears those wonderful words of her Lord, Marie is overcome with joy and her face tells the story, she had waited since my last visit to hear those wonderful words of forgiveness once again. She receives the Sacrament in the same way.

When I consider Marie, I must say that she has a "child-like" faith. Not that she acts like a child or lacks understanding, but that she trust her Lord like a child trust her father. She eagerly awaits His attention and all the good gifts that He offers.

Lately I have been dealing with much anticipation in my life.  But this anticipation is not the good kind. It is the anticipation that tends to bring on anxiety. Anxiety from such things as trying to get work accomplished, sermons written, member visits completed, preparing for and waiting for vacation in July, waiting for progress to happen on certain pet projects. This is not the good kind of anticipation.

St. Paul wrote this to the Philipians: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7 ESV)

This needs to be my prayer today and always that the Lord God would remind me to trust in Him with a child-like faith and to not worry about tomorrow. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
(Matthew 6:34 ESV) May God grant peace and contentment for Jesus' sake. Amen.