Do you still have a sense of anticipation of what God can do?
Maybe you're on the road right now. Maybe you've just experienced it, but if not, let me set the scene. You've just pulled away from the gas station and you're completely ready to go. You turn toward the interstate, the sun is just peeking over the horizon, a fresh cup of coffee in the cup holder, and you're setting out. Typically this is when I turn on a really great album to set the tone for the first part of the trip. Music playing, vehicle speeding up – I'm excited. I'm feeling good.
I sometimes wonder if this is one of the greatest parts of a road trip. It's the anticipation, the excitement, the looking forward to something fresh and different. I'm thinking of all the great things I'm going to do, I have high hopes, and I'm ready for a break from the routine.
The feeling fades though, doesn't it? That sense of anticipation can fade as we progress through the trip. But in the beginning, it's really great. The emotions are high, but then the monotony causes it to fade and feel like a drag.
Has that happened to you in your relationship with Jesus? I definitely have had significant seasons where there was zero excitement in my relationship with Jesus. And I don't blame Jesus – I think a lot of it had to do with me and my viewpoint.
What changed from being excited and anticipating something good? On the drive, nothing has changed (except maybe a crying kid in the back...) We're still headed out, we're still on our way, but the mood has shifted.
It's all me. It's all my attitude.
Often I think we lose our sense of anticipation and expectation that something good is coming. Just like the emotion fades on the trip, we lose sight of the fact that we're on our way to something good. I think God wants to do things in our lives, and we often miss Him because we're too busy focusing on the fact that we haven't gotten "there" yet.
Psalm 27:13 says this:
I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
I love that posture and mindset! A confidence that God's goodness will be on display.
Do you still look to God with a sense of anticipation? Do you ever wonder what He'll do? Do you show up to something with a sense that He is up to something? Or maybe you're like me, and you show up with a hint of monotony and think it's going to be just another day, just another mile, and it's something to survive instead of an opportunity for something great.
Because here's what's true in the monotony of a road trip. I've had some of the greatest conversations with my wife in the car, some of the funniest conversations with my boys in the car, and I've often untangled complicated ideas while just having time to think and process. Maybe there's more to take advantage of in the monotony, and all that needs to change is our attitude and posture for something beautiful to happen. It may not be grand, it may not part the clouds, but it could still be good.
Let's choose to look to God with anticipation and expectation – because He's still at work even in the small things.