Anticipation

Don’t grow weary in the waiting. Instead, wait with anticipation!

Anticipation: waiting eagerly for something; excitement; to look ahead and prepare for; an expectation; anticipating with confidence of fulfillment.

Waiting is often seen as such a terrible word. 

We groan when we have to wait in line in the drive-thru. We despair at the thought of waiting at the DMV. Children can never wait patiently and, instead, ask us a million times, “Are we there yet?”

And as Christians, “wait” takes on a whole other type of pain. We don’t want to wait on His presence. We don’t want to wait for His answer. We don’t want to wait for His direction. We don’t want to go through another waiting season. We’re tired of waiting!

But what would you think if I told you that there is purpose in the waiting?

I’m sure you’ve heard that line before, and perhaps it even causes your eyes to roll in utter annoyance. 

But hard truth: that statement is true.

When we really rest on this statement, we can begin to see it as truth. And instead of trying to rush the waiting, and hating the waiting, we can find peace in it. 

Let me give you a fresh perspective. 

Instead of dragging yourself through the waiting, begin to have anticipation for the next step. 

A lot of times when we think of anticipation, we think of being excited for something. We think of knowing something is coming and being excited for it, but having to suffer through the waiting. 

But anticipation is so much more.

Yes, anticipation is eagerly waiting for something. Anticipation is excitement. Yes, anticipation is expectation of something.

But anticipation is the act of looking forward and preparing for something. Anticipation is expecting something with the confidence of fulfillment. 

I read that and thought, “Wow. That was good.”

Because a lot of times, something is spoken over us, we receive a word from the Lord, and we’re so excited for it. But nothing happens. 

We want a move of God, we want His promises fulfilled, we want to see the word spoken over us come to pass, and we want it now. But we grow weary in the waiting. 

One definition of the word “wait” is to “wait in readiness for some purpose.”

I don’t know about y’all, but this definition makes waiting sound beautiful. 

Waiting isn’t just delay. Waiting is a time for us to get ready for our purpose.

So if you’re in the waiting, I encourage you to begin anticipating your future. Wait eagerly. Wait with excitement for what’s to come instead of mourning about the delay.

Take time to look ahead and prepare for the future. And most important of all, expect with confidence that God will fulfill the promise. It will come to pass.

Stop dreading the wait, and instead, anticipate today.

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Maddisen Sauls is the smile and voice behind the Everyday Joy blog as well as the author of the Word of the Week posts and the editor of by leaps and bounds. Throughout her life, Maddisen has worked as a reporter for small town newspapers, a School Age and Preschool teacher, and has acquired her ministerial license. 

An avid book reader and lover of the written word, Maddisen is passionate about using her favorite medium to reach the lost and the hurting, and to offer encouragement and hope to those struggling through life. 

Following her battle with depression, Maddisen has made it her mission to help other people through this journey and to bring joy to the lives of the people around her. 

You can find Maddisen on Instagram @maddisen.paige