Hope: Waiting Expectantly

Janet here. As a child the wait for Christmas morning seemed endless. I can remember jumping up and down on my bed the night before Christmas, beside myself with excitement, anticipating the gifts I’d asked Santa for, never doubting I’d get them. Ah, the greedy hope of childhood.

In college, I took physics because the science classes for elementary education majors were closed. Not a smart decision as I hadn’t taken physics in high school. I soon learned I was in way over my head. I waited for the final grade scared I would fail and have to retake the course. I knew I’d done my best, but was my best good enough? Ah, the desperate hope of the ill-equipped.

As a married woman, I waited for the birth of our children. I was excited, a bit nervous, wanting to be a good mother, praying for a healthy baby. Though there were no guarantees, I waited expectantly. Ah, the beautiful hope of motherhood.

We pray for many things. When waiting for an answer, we try to wait expectantly, to thank God before we see evidence of His answer. To wait in ways that bring Him honor.

Yet the wait is sometimes hard, even scary, especially if waiting for test results or for a deployed soldier to return home.

The wait can become discouraging, especially for those who wait month after month, year after year...to get published…to get pregnant…to get well.

How can we wait with expectation when the wait seems endless?

We remember God’s promises. Scripture reminds us that we are not alone in this world. God is here. He’s working behind the scenes. We may never know what all He’s doing to protect and provide for us because our view is limited.

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            We remember what God did for us in the past. When we look back at our lives, we are encouraged to see the times that God protected us, got us through difficulties or gave us a way out.  

·         We remember God may be teaching us something. Sometimes the wait is so long that all we can do is hang on and join God on the path He’s chosen for our lives. The hard times are not what we seek, but they often teach us many things like patience, trust, compassion and dependence on God.

How can we handle the answer to our prayers when the answer is no?

·         We remember God brings good out of bad. It’s often during the worst times that we truly see how much we’re loved by friends and family. Tough times also slow us down and help us get our priorities right. Tough times draw us closer to God.       

           We remember that what we think is best, may not be best. I think about the long wait for the promised Messiah and those who missed Him when He came because He wasn’t what they’d expected or what they'd wanted. Sometimes God’s answer may feel wrong, but brings the most amazing blessings. God sees the big picture and has a plan for our lives.  

·         We remember that our faith during trials can be a powerful witness. I'm not suggesting we should fake joy or peace we don't feel, but when we hang onto our faith during difficult circumstances, we're light and salt in this world. 

There are no pat answers. But there is hope. Jesus left the majesty of Heaven and came to earth as a baby that we might have eternal life with Him. He loves us and wants to give us good things, to use us in amazing ways, to draw us close. We are blessed.  

My prayer is that no matter what you’re facing, the God of hope will fill your heart with profound peace this Christmas.

What is the hardest thing you’ve had to wait for?

What is the best answer to prayer you’ve ever received?

What Scripture helps you through the toughest times?

I brought tea, coffee, hot chocolate, six-week bran muffins, cheesy grits, egg soufflé, granola, Swedish fruit soup and trays of Christmas cookies—enough to munch on all day. Stay for a lunch of chicken salad on Hawaiian rolls. Come back for lasagna, tossed salad and garlic bread for dinner.  

Leave a comment for a chance to win one of three copies of my eBook novella “A Daddy for Christmas,” once part of the Seeker collection Home for Christmas.

Here’s an excerpt:

Tess’s heart lurched to her throat. She’d know that rugged, handsome, despicable face anywhere.

Surely not. Please, God.

Folks turned toward her, murmuring.

“If I ain’t lost my wits, Rafe Rafferty’s back,” old man Snyder said. “What you gonna do now, Miss Russo?”

Run.

With a couple quick steps she whirled out of his path.

“Tess, is that you?”

Trapped by the voice that had once enthralled her, she skidded to a halt, fighting the waves of panic crashing through her. Why had he come back? With every ounce of her will, she composed her expression and faced the cad.

He doffed his hat. Even after all that had happened, all the pain he’d caused, the sight of him ratcheted her pulse. She laid a hand over her tripping heart and stared into crystal blue eyes sparkling with zest for life. “Rafe,” was all she could push past her lips.

“Glad I saw you.” He grinned, his gaze sweeping over her. “You’re all grown up.”

The approval in his gaze melted her resistance. How could this man who’d destroyed her sister have this effect on her? “It’s been over three years.”

His gaze turned somber, pensive. “Yes, too long.”

He knew something. What? “Where have you been?” As soon as the question left her lips, she regretted it. What difference did it make?

A gleam of excitement flared in his eyes. “I’ve been working on Mount Rushmore, been part of carving President Washington.”

South Dakota was hundreds of miles away. The tension in her muscles eased. Rafe would not stay.

“Where can I find Vi?”

At her sides, her hands curled into fists. “My, uh, my sister is gone.”

“Gone. Where?”

Unable to speak the words, Tess shook her head and turned to go.

A firm grasp on her forearm stopped her. Outside of leaving her coat behind, she couldn’t escape him or his question.

“Tess, tell me. Where’s Viola?”

Tears welled, but she blinked them away. She would not cry in front of him. “She’s dead.”

“Dead?” he rasped like a man sucker-punched and in search of air. Shock-filled eyes met hers. “When? What happened?”

“She died in childbirth,” she spat out, grief roiling up inside her, as fresh as the day she’d lost her sister.

Tears flooded his eyes.

She ran toward the wagon. This time he didn’t try to stop her.

As she pulled away from the depot, her gaze straight ahead, she could feel his eyes upon her. She was merely putting off the inevitable. When Rafe wanted something, he went after it. As he had her sister.

Her heart skipped a beat. Soon he’d learn Vi’s baby had lived. Would he try to take Josie from the only family she knew? From the family that loved and cared for her, while he’d been gallivanting around the country, leaving who knew how many other unwed mothers in his wake?

Three years before, she’d been a silly seventeen-year-old girl with a secret crush on her sister’s handsome beau. Both she and Vi had been fools. No longer.

If Rafe Rafferty tried to intrude in Josie’s life, he would soon learn she was no longer that starry-eyed teenager who’d found him captivating. She was the same as a mother to Vi’s child and would protect that little girl from a man who might be handsome, might be intriguing, but who would bring harm to everyone in his path.  

Janet Dean grew up in a family who cherished the past and had a strong creative streak. Her father recounted fascinating stories, like his father before him. The tales they told instilled in Janet a love of history and the desire to write. Today Janet spins stories for Love Inspired Historical. She is a two-time Golden Heart finalist, a Genesis and a Carol finalist and a member of Romance Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers. Her novels are Golden Quill, Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, Booksellers Best and Inspirational Readers Choice Award finalists.