Anticipation

Scripture: Psalm 27

Reflect: “Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.”  The anticipation Mary must have had on that trip to Bethlehem! Bringing a child into the world is a miracle itself, but to usher in the Savior, what excitement she must have had.  Still, it would not surprise me to hear this young teen also was nervous.  To deliver a baby is no small thing, and she was being carried further from her family with every step the donkey took.  Strength, courage, hope and anticipation mixing together, I wonder if Mary was also fighting fear?  Her excitement likely magnified by the knowledge that soon the Savior would be here!  Regardless of Mary’s anticipation, one thing that cannot be rushed is the delivery of a baby.  Mary and Joseph could only wait.  Wait and trust that soon, the son of Yahweh, whom David prayed to hundreds of years before would arrive. 

David reminds us in Psalm 27 that we have no need to fear our circumstances when God is on our side.  “The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?”  Mary understood that when she responded to the angel.  Both David and Mary knew that trusting the Lord did not mean a conflict free life was ahead, and yet as David says so beautifully, the eternal desire out weighed any earthly trouble.  “⁴ One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.”

For many, Christmas anticipation surrounds gifts, travel and time with extended family. Mary and Joseph’s anticipation looked much different that first Christmas as they prepared to welcome Jesus into the world. The nervousness, fear and joy surrounding that day likely consumed them as all new parents.  I wonder if the emotions of the day allowed them to fully grasp the enormity of the gift their bravery and obedience brought forth?

May the wonder of all Christmas truly is overwhelm you and your family this year as you celebrate the birth of the King whom we will dwell with one day in His house.

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Discuss:

What are you having a hard time waiting on?  Is your impatience in part due to fear?  How can you move past fear to a place of waiting on God?

Pray:

Lord give us the strength to wait on you with trust filled anticipation.  Help us to remember you fight for us and we have no reason to fear our enemies.  Thank you for fighting for us even when fear gets the best of us.

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