Living in Anticipation

By Jenni Schubring, Director of Women’s Ministries 

This weekend, my daughter, Sylvia, and I are heading out on a road trip! We leave early Friday morning for Custer State Park in South Dakota. Sylvia is mentoring a young woman through a ministry she's been serving with over the past three years, and we'll get to spend some time with her while we're there.

A lot goes into planning a road trip. I am not a big planner, so this is definitely outside my comfort zone. We had to figure out what days we would be driving, how long we'd stay, what we'd see, where we'd stop, and the list goes on.

To say that this trip is taking up brain space is an understatement. If I'm not planning something for the trip, I'm daydreaming about it. I'm genuinely excited for this get-away.

It made me wonder: What if I anticipated Jesus' return with that same excitement?

Jesus reminds us,

"So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." — Matthew 24:44 (NIV)

And Paul encourages us,

"...while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." — Titus 2:13 (NIV)

Notice that Paul doesn't describe Jesus' return as something to fear, but as our "blessed hope." We don't prepare because we're anxious; we prepare because we know Who is coming.

As I pack bags, check google maps, and make lists this week, I want those things to remind me to prepare my heart, too. Am I spending time with Jesus? Am I living in a way that reflects Him? Am I eagerly looking forward to the day I'll see Him face to face?

Maybe this week, every time you make a plan or check something off your to-do list, let it be a small reminder that we're also living in anticipation of something far greater than our next vacation or holiday. Our greatest journey ends in the presence of Jesus, and that is worth looking forward to every single day.