Anticipate

Anticipate

I rise before dawn and cry for help; I wait for Your words. My eyes anticipate the night watches, so that I may meditate on Your word.

MY FAMILY DIDN’T HAVE a lot of money when I was growing up. My sisters and I were always fed and clothed and loved, but we didn’t always have a lot of extras. Whenever we had the rare treat of a Coca-Cola, we’d split the can three ways, and we were much more likely to shop at garage sales than the mall.

One experience we always anticipated, however, was back-to-school shopping. Each year, we would head to Kmart to find the jeans and shirts we liked and needed, and we’d put them on layaway. Then, we’d wait.

Layaway allows the purchaser to select their items and set them aside, gradually paying them off with a payment plan. At the end of the plan, you’re allowed to bring your items home. But with the advent of technology that lets us make two clicks online to order an item that will show up on our doorstep in two days, waiting—and the joy it can bring—is something of a lost art.

Anticipation for something—whether it’s items in layaway, a piece of chocolate at the end of a meal, a vacation you’ve spent months or years planning, or the prospect of curling up on the couch to watch a favorite program or read a much-anticipated novel at the end of the day—not only gives us something to look forward to, it’s something our brains are hardwired to seek. Dopamine, the “feel good” chemical neurotransmitter that causes excitement and prevents pain, is released not just when we experience good things but also when we expect good things.

Anticipation can factor into our relationship with Jesus, as well. Whether we consider our time with him an event to look forward to or a chore to check off our list, our anticipation or lack thereof can influence our relationship with him. Our attitude reflects our mindset. When we live in the confident expectation that we can anticipate good things from a good Father, we will look forward to our time with him. As Christians, let’s anticipate with hopeful expectation the goodness of the Lord by spending time with him. It’s worth the wait.

Lord, help us to see the gift of anticipation in our lives and to cultivate it in our relationship with you. Amen.

-Kristin

One Good Step: Make a list of three things (big or small) you are currently anticipating.