Anticipation. That is the word God gave me for last year. As some of you may know, God has given me a word that describes what to expect or look for at the beginning of each year. And to no surprise, that word has always encompassed the summation, what that year had in store for us personally or as a whole. Last year the word was Anticipation. Actually, that is really a loaded word and can go in a lot of directions.
There are always things we anticipate. It could be a finding the right person to make a home with, anticipating babies or grandbabies, even fur babies count. A long-awaited phone call from a loved one or someone who has been estranged. Anticipating a new home or a new job or career. Starting school, ending school, graduating, getting a degree, achieving a lifelong goal, taking that trip of a life time or just one that you desperately need to get away.
But not all anticipations are good. Maybe, you are waiting for an unpleasant or daunting appointment, maybe test results. You could be wondering if you will get the notice that you will be laid off, or the news of an expected passing of a loved one, or a trial to be over. We anticipate so much from the big things in life to just surviving until Friday. We anticipate seasons, months, holidays, celebrations, or the reminders of those now gone.
What are you anticipating this year? For some it is a new season. Some are anticipating spring, maybe surgeries, weddings, new births, new jobs, a vacation. But do you anticipate the time you get to spend one on one with God? Or dare I ask….. Do you anticipate Sunday worship? Or stepping aside from the rat race to quiet your soul and spend time in the presence of the one who knows your worries, your anticipations, ….. the One who SEES you?
We come on Sunday and during those times in the week before the one who created the entire universe and beyond, and yet knows everything about us and what we are facing and what looms ahead. We come anticipating peace, hope, rest and assurance that while we may have to wait and not know the outcome, God does.
And he says to us “I’ve got this. All this worrying, fretting, impatience and trepidation will not affect the outcome one bit. But if you will quiet yourself, if you will pray and talk to me, I can give you that which you are longing for.”
Sometimes like Moses we are so caught up in our own messiness that it takes something as extraordinary as a burning bush to grab our attention. When Moses wanted to know the name of this Hebrew God he was told “I Am who I Am”. The nation of Isreal spent years in captivity anticipating the day that God would deliver them from the bondage of Egypt. A little less than 1500 years later the anticipation of the long-awaited Messiah was to be fulfilled as Jesus stood among the Jewish people. When asked, “Who are you?” He just spoke two words. “I Am.”
If you are thirsty, he says “I am the living water.”
If you are hungry he says, “I am the bread of life.”
If you are broken and worn, he says, “I am your healer and restorer.”
If you are scared or alone, he says, “I am the Rock of Ages and your friend.”
If you are anticipating forgiveness or redemption, he says, “My blood was poured out for the forgiveness of all sins and if you accept me, I am the light of your salvation.”
See “I Am” covers it all. So whatever you are anticipating, whatever you are in need of, “I Am” has it covered. God hasn’t given me my word yet for 2026, but I know that He has it covered. Whatever happens, He is all I need. And I anticipate the day when he has promised to come get his bride and take us all to be with him.
Shalom,
Pastor Penny
