Expectant or expecting — what does that bring to mind for you? Maybe a woman who is going to have a baby or a particular event you may be looking forward to?

Google’s definition is “having or showing an excited feeling that something is about to happen, especially something pleasant and interesting.”

My mom wrote a journal for almost 50 years, making daily entries. I have been reading one of the last ones she wrote in and she wrote in it as though she were talking directly to the Lord (like a letter). One thing I noticed is that regularly she used the word “expectant” — she was expecting the Lord to show up in a special way in her day! She also used the word “thankful” often and I think the key to her victorious, joy-filled life was just that — she remained thankful all the days of her life and she carried a sense of expectancy and never fell into boredom or hopelessness, no matter how bad actual circumstances were.

I have noticed that I have been using that word quite a bit myself lately! I think it is for a similar reason — I know that we are living in historical times that some would call “the last days.” That may look very different to you than it does to me, but what has gotten me so expectant is that I have read the end of the book! 

While there are many things that I do not begin to understand about “the last days” scenario, the one thing I do firmly believe is that ultimately Jesus is coming back for me and that He is now preparing me to rule and reign with Him in the Kingdom Age that will follow this age we are now living in. I may see natural death first, because I do not know that exact day or hour of His return, but I do know I will be a part of that victorious company of believers if I will “hold fast until the end.” Until the end of my life with all the trials, all the temptations, all the things I have yet to face while in this body upon this present earth as it is today, may I remain expectant about what the Lord is doing and wants to do in and through my life.

In my present understanding of where we are in history, I can agree with the author who wrote about it being “the best of times and the worst of times.” Scriptures do state that in the latter days, the wicked will grow more wicked and the righteous will grow more righteous. The wheat and the tares are now growing up together in the same field (the world), but a day will come when the great reaper will cut down the proud tares that refuse to bow their “heads” that the wheat, that is ripe has done. There will be a separation even before the Great White Throne Judgment, where those who have chosen to walk in truth and righteousness will be obvious and set apart from those who are wicked, who deny the truth.

I think one of our enemy’s tools is to emphasize the negative to us to try to discourage us and create a sense of hopelessness. I refuse to stay in that kind of mindset. I may slip into discouragement or disappointment, due to negative circumstances, but I don’t need to stay there. I must get my eyes back on the truth, back on eternal things and off of the temporal situation that may seem impossible.

Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” He is talking about you and I — that His power working in and through us is going to produce much more than we could ever even begin to imagine right now. Some of us have pretty good imaginations and we have learned how to ask “big,” so I am wondering what that is going to look like! 

I feel some days like a little kid being told that I get to go spend three days at Disneyland and get to experience everything they have to offer! Or Alice in Wonderland or the children in Chronicles of Narnia or even Star Wars — going where no man has gone before! Wow! Do you have that kind of excitement and expectancy about the days ahead? You can and you should if you are a believer and know your Bible.