Joyful Expectancy
Romans 8:22-25 MSG
22-25 All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.
The longer we wait, the larger we become…
But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.
I don’t know about you but patience is definitely something that God has had to teach me. It can be hard to be patient sometimes and eliminate the need for control of situations and circumstances. But there is an expectancy and a joy that we can have knowing that God is in control.
Also, there is so much hope that comes from this verse because we can see that the length of time that we spend waiting shouldn’t stagnate our faith. Instead, the longer we wait, the larger we become! One NKJV Commentary Bible talks about this being the workings of the Holy Spirit inside of us. That is a crucial acknowledgement to make. It is not us. We don’t produce that joy in and of ourselves. It is the working of the Holy Spirit.
The longer we wait… the more joyful our expectancy…
But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.
‘How we wait is important.’
If you’ve watched any Christian videos or read any (other) Christian blogs on waiting, you will probably be familiar with that statement. It’s not just about waiting, it’s about what we do and how we let God shape our characters within the waiting period.
We can either grumble and complain OR we can thank God in the waiting, knowing that He is a good shepherd who has our best interest in mind.
The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. (Psalm 23:1)
26“Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27“And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28“And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32“For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. (Matthew 6:26-32)
In the waiting, it’s important to keep reminding yourself WHO you are waiting on. You’re waiting on your Shepherd who provides you with everything you need & the your Heavenly Father who considers you to be extremely valuable. For that reason, you can have joy, and ask God for joy, as you wait.
The comparison to waiting like a pregnant mother
Generally, pregnant women wait in expectation and excitement at the joy of knowing their child is growing inside of their womb. The 9 months of the baby being knitted together in their mother’s womb is a beautiful time where they also wait in anticipation of what their child will look like. The closer they get to the birth date, the more the mother is ready to meet their child. There is an expectancy that they will have an unmoving, unequivocal joy when they hold their precious gift (their baby) for the first time in their arms.
This is the comparison that has been given to our waiting seasons. We can wait joyfully, not because we are waiting on ourselves, but because we are waiting on the Lord.
Romans 8:28 says,
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Notice what the Bible says: ALL THINGS. Not some things but ALL things. After asking God that He help us to walk in His will, we can be assured that everything we do, as we walk in humble obedience to Him will lead to good & His name being glorified. Waiting can be a joyful period because we know, like a pregnant woman, that in the end it will be beautiful!
This begs the question then, how can we wait?
Matthew 6:33 says, But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:34 says, So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Philippians 4:6 says, Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
We can see time and time again throughout scripture that our best position in waiting is to just worship God, meditate on His word and hand all your worries over to Him. Waiting can be a real rollercoaster, one minute you’re fine and the next minute you’re trying not to scream “I’m NOT okay!!”. But God wants us to come to Him in every single part of the rollercoaster of emotions that we feel. We should pray… pray… and pray some more… about everything! Then, trust that as we seek the Lord, He will continue to work and ensure that what ever He wants to add to you will be added to you.
