to hope, to wait

I’m so excited tonight. It’s been an incredible week of productivity, great conversations, and lots to hope for. I think hope is the biggest thing because only with hope can I see plans for various projects come to fruition. I’m working with my favorite partner to team up with friends in Africa to change lives. Yeah, it’s awesome to be a part of such a grand goal. All the while, the efforts ahead of use are extreme and way beyond what I know or think I can do. So all I can do is hope. Hope that I get out of my own way so great things can happen. Hope that I listen carefully to how God is and will instruct us in the coming minutes, days and months. Hope for more people to be filled with the joy and peace that comes from such hope.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

The song Everlasting God says:
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord.

Waiting can have two meanings:
1) Stand by, remain, anticipate, and expect what God wants to do and how he will use us.
2) Serve like a waiter at a restaurant. Go and do what has been instructed.

Both are super important because without hanging around for and with God, we can’t possibly get the right or full instructions. Meanwhile, there are times when we know what needs to be done, how to do it or where to find the resources to make it happen. That forward movement might take us to the threshold when what we’ve anticipated is finally revealed.

Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired; they will walk and not become weary. ~Isaiah 40:31

Hope and waiting are quite similar. They both have a bit of anticipation and expectation wrapped up in them. They also require a trust in something yet unknown. Even in serving, we are trusting that the efforts are worthwhile and help attain the goal.

Being this excited right now is a good place to be. And I’m grateful that the excitement is built on the foundation of hope and waiting. That foundation will come in handy in those less productive and frustrating weeks. Though the days ebb and flow, the hope remains.