Ignoring the Joy of Anticipation

 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

    After all these years, I still remember that joy of anticipation! Our town had a yearly event that every child looked forward to with an eagerness that could not be compared to anything else: the El Dorado Picnic. Every July, a carnival came to our town, and Main Street became a never-ending delight of a tilt-a-whirl and bumper cars, a huge Ferris wheel, and a merry-go-round. Oh, and the cotton candy and candied apples, and arcade!  

    We would meet our friends at the city park and then get in line for every ride the carnival had - over and over and over. The rides were expensive to us. A quarter a ride is a million dollars to a 10-year-old, and none of us were rich. 

    So we all did odd jobs and saved every penny we made for the rides, and we were beyond thrilled. There was a joy of anticipation at the reward for saving all our money: laughter and screams of delight as we and our friends spent hours together at the picnic. “I can’t wait for the picnic!” we would tell each other on the phone as we planned which ride we would line up for first.

    But with each payment for a job accomplished, our parents reminded us of an important fact. “The money you save is for the picnic. But if you decide to spend it on something else before the picnic is here, you will not be given more money to spend. It’s up to you. Make smart choices.”

    I thought I would have no problem. I knew my priorities, and I determined to stick to them. Until we went to town to shop. And I saw the little pink purse with the chain strap and pink feathers on the front. And I had my money - my picnic ride money - with me. I remember staring at the purse and struggling with my choice. Do I save my money for what is coming - the rides with friends - or do I spend it now because I really like that purse? 

    I knew I had made a mistake as I held the purse on my lap on the drive home. I had chosen something I thought would make me happy right now, and instead knew too late that I had given up my joy of anticipation for something that would all too soon break or go out of style and would never compare to the joy of being with my friends. 

   I understand that as humans, our perspective is narrow, and is like trying to see the entire moon by looking through a straw. But God’s perspective is never-ending! He sees the entire universe that He created! We have become so conditioned in this world to not wait but to expect whatever we want right now! Maybe it’s a bigger home that we know we cannot afford yet, or sex before marriage with someone we believe we love and might want to marry. The joy of anticipation has often been replaced by less than God’s best for us. 

    Just as our parents explained their reasoning for us saving our money, we also must remember that God’s intentions for our lives are good. When we trust Him, no matter what life brings, we can hold on to hopeful expectation because He wants the joy of anticipation to be ours! The beautiful part of God’s love for us is this: He forgives, He pulls us back to Him, and He encourages us to start over so we may all experience the joy of anticipation. 

    Father, so many times I haven’t waited for your best for me, but have chosen unwisely. Help me to focus on the joy of anticipation with each choice I make. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

R.A.P. it up . . . 

Reflect

• Have you ever gone ahead of God and chosen something over a future choice?

• How did you feel if you realized you should have chosen differently?

Apply

• Write down future goals that you would like to achieve or accomplish.

• Record possible outcomes of not waiting. Pray over each decision.

Power

• Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

• Psalm 27:14 (NIV) “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

• Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘ plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”