Anticipation

My family and I just returned from our vacation to Glacier National Park.  Usually, I am a planner and I get everything organized down to the last minute as to what we will do during our vacation.  This always leads to the “planned anticipation” of what we are going to be doing each day.  Well, this year wasn’t like that at all. Honestly, I wasn’t even anticipating the trip.  We had just returned from Arizona from grieving my aunt’s death and all that goes along with handling the details of her life that was left behind. Before the trip, I hadn’t done much planning and the vacation wasn’t even something I wanted to do; as I couldn’t imagine it being a very joyful experience during this time. This brings me to the moment where God decided to give me a new meaning of anticipation with him by my side.

While we didn’t have a plan as to what we were going to do each day we certainly had a fun-filled vacation with plenty of things to see and enjoy. This was a different vacation than I have even been on with my family in the past. They would tell you that even during regular life I usually have every meal planned, the days planned with timelines, and this is typically only heightened when we “vacation”. Although, this time God knew what I needed. The fog of grief that led up to this vacation was still lingering and I just knew I needed time away. I learned quickly that anticipation can simply be what is coming up around the corner on a trail, maybe an animal, maybe a rock shaped like a heart, or maybe simply the grand view of God’s creation that I have never seen before.

As I reflected on this vacation, I quickly realized that the unplanned, awe-inspiring creation I was seeing each day allowed me to relate my vacation to times in my life.  Those times in my life when I want to control the things so much I forget there is so much to anticipate without a plan. Surrendering my plan to God allows me to anticipate the miracles he has set aside for me instead of me simply anticipating the planned excitement I created myself. I never anticipated I would be mourning my aunt’s death during this season of life. We had many other plans to be together, but God had plans to heal her eternally. So as I sit here and reflect with you I ask myself (and all of you)… what is it that you have to release to God today so you can begin to anticipate his greatness again?  Have you been doing too much of the planning to be blessed by the eager anticipation of God’s mighty hand in your life? This week I pray you find that anticipation again!

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1

Blessings,
Pastor Hope Terhaar