Anticipation

January 28, 2022

Kristi is progressing so well. Within 48 hours of the start of her procedure, her colon has begun working as normal. She has been up and walking, sitting in a chair, changing her hospital gown, and staying strong and positive. God has truly worked miracles in her body. She has a kind of supernatural strength that was not there before. Some are praying for angels to surround her – seems like God sent the power angels! 💪

Almost all of the past 48 hours has been anticipation. Anticipation for Kristi to come out of surgery. Anticipation for her to open her eyes. Anticipation for her to make her first attempt to move. Anticipation for her to walk, sit in a chair, use the restroom, laugh, smile, cry, get angry, sleep, wake – basically anticipation for her to be back to her baseline. It has been remarkable to watch her regain her strength, fight, and even eat.

Anticipation is a powerful emotion. It is a lot like hope. As long as anticipation is pointed in the right direction, it can powerfully get us through moments of stress, uncertainty, crisis, and sadness. Hope, like anticipation, is expecting something to go a certain way and believing it will be so.

The author of Hebrews wrote these powerful words almost 2,000 years ago:

“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.”

Hebrews 11:1

Anticipation correctly pointed, leads to hope, which strengthens our faith. We don’t always see exactly what God is doing around us, but we can hope, believe and anticipate His power and control. So many times over the past 48 hours, I have seen God move and fulfill my hope – this has strengthened my faith, which has given me trust to move to the next challenge.

Whenever our faith is challenged, we have two choices – grow or regress. When we grow, we have more endurance for life’s next challenge. When we regress, we lose some of our power to trust God in the future. James tells us to let our faith grow:

“For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

James 1:3-4

It’s through the testing that our hope, faith, and positive anticipation grows. So let it grow. Don’t allow setbacks and heartaches stifle your faith. Don’t let a bad day or sickness destroy your hope. Don’t let discouragement and bad people destroy your anticipation for good days ahead. Let your faith grow in spite of the circumstances you face.

How?

Look up. Anticipate heaven. So many times this past week I have forgotten to look up. It reminds me of Peter when Jesus called him out to walk on the water. His first few steps he was fine. Then, he started looking around and the waves and the danger. He forgot to look up. As he sank, Jesus, in His grace reached out and rescued him. We are all heading somewhere. Where does your anticipation lie? We can get through almost anything if we know there are better days ahead. What could be better than eternity with Jesus? We can get through all that this world throws our way because this is not our final living place. If you know Jesus, look up!

Look around. Anticipate connection. There are way too many people looking down instead of looking around. I am guilty of getting on the elevator and immediately grabbing my phone in order to avoid people and conversations. This destroys faith. This removes opportunity to be encouraged. This misses the opportunity to be an encouragement. Look around. There are so many hurting people. There are so many that need a good word and a smile. When you do, your faith grows.

Look back. Anticipate repeated experiences. We have seen where God has moved before. We have seen where He performed miracles before. We have seen His hand guide our steps. Look back and remember a few of those times. Carry them with you. Pull them out and observe them when you are discouraged. Anticipate that He will do it again.

Kristi continues to fight. She continues to improve. We continue to anticipate the healing God will deliver, supernaturally, naturally, and medically. He is so good, how can we not anticipate what He is doing all around us?

Ray Rhoton

#warriorqueen

#kristiswar

#jointhefight