Living Where Hope Rises

“But those who wait for the Lord—who expect, look for, and hope in Him—will gain new strength and renew their power; they will lift up their wings and rise up close to God like eagles rising toward the sun; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not grow tired.”—Isaiah 40:31, Amplified

Even amidst the weariness and cares of life, one of the most important attitudes we can carry into Sunday morning worship is expectancy.

It’s an active word, meaning “to look for.” But expectancy isn’t some misty-eyed, ungrounded solo experience. It’s rooted in rock-solid words like faith and hope and trust—that the God who once opened blind eyes, restored feeble limbs, resurrected hearts, and proved Himself loving and faithful without fault is not confined to old stories but is still very much invading our world. Even yours.

Expectancy can be the difference between boring and beautiful, between routine and revelation, between watching God from a distance and encountering God.

But expectancy is much more than a Sunday morning word, because it’s one of the the most important attitudes we can carry into our lifestyle of Monday through Saturday worship, too. And for all the same reasons. Expectancy doesn’t turn a blind eye to checklists, plans, or timetables (helpful as all of those can be), but it takes all of that and helps turn all of our fearful “yes, but what if…” into a more hopeful and productive “why not?”

All because the Foundation is sure.

Expectancy may be child-like in its wonder and trust, but neither is it foolish or childish. Jesus drove this point home time and again, both to His disciples as well to those who majored in going through the motions of religion.And it was an adult, after all, one with a child-like heart after God, who penned these expectant words:

“My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me, O My people,’ and my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming!’”—Psalm 27:8, Living Bible

Goodness to carry into church this morning, and into another week.

“Keep your life in constant contact with God, that His surprising power may break out on the right hand and on the left. Always be in a state of expectancy, and see that you leave room for God to come in as He likes.”

—Oswald Chambers