You know the little kid in the back seat on a long trip? Every 15 minutes, they ask (with a tired sigh) – “Are we there yet?!” That’s the same little cherub, along with a host of other little kids and just as many adults, who asks, “Is it Christmas yet?” The first exclamation – “Are we there yet?” – is more like – “Gosh! How much longer?!” An impatience and a feeling of being confined. The second exclamation – “Is it Christmas yet?” – is more like – “I’m so excited, I can hardly wait.” An expression of the joy of anticipation.
Waiting Is HARD!
Waiting is just HARD! But everybody waits. We wait in line at the gas station. We wait for phone calls, appointments, packages in the mail. For special trips. Birthdays. A long-awaited vacation. We wait to see someone you hardly get to spend time with. And we wait for the rewards of something you worked hard for. But – Christmas waiting – that’s the hardest. Still, many people just love Christmas.
Here are some special parts of Christmas we wait for:
- For it to actually arrive.
- Anticipating special gatherings.
- So children can open presents.
- For a dessert you’ve been saving up calories to enjoy.
- The anticipation of a special movie or game.
- To engage in conversations that inspire hope.
- For reflections on the amazing Christmas story.
- We wait as we stand in line at a store, Christmas shopping.
- We sit at a stop light for holiday traffic to cross.
- To enjoy the season’s first cup of wassail.
- For all the special, festive lights of Christmas that light up the night and your home.
But there are other very unique kinds of waiting that sometimes happen in the Christmas season – like:
- Anxiously waiting for results to a medical test.
- Hoping a person you courageously reached out to might respond back.
- Waiting for a much-needed bonus check.
- Needing to hear a loved one made all their flight connections OR drove many miles safely to their destination.
- Some people in this world are waiting for their next meal.
Waiting is just HARD!
What Is Joy Of Anticipation?
What does the joy of anticipation for Christmas look like?
Well, for starters, joy of anticipation is in the face of every excited child as they “dream forward.” It’s in the lifted spirits of a tired career professional excited about a break from daily demands of the office. You see it in the eyes of a dear friend or loved one as they welcome special traditions and preparations. Sometimes, it’s in the smile of a neighbor as they stop by with unexpected goodies to share. And one can even hear joy of anticipation in freshly expressed sentiments of hope from community leaders. Joy of anticipation can be in the grocery clerk who checks you out and wonders what you will make with the supplies you purchase. In fact, anticipation is in the very air – almost everywhere – as we get closer to Christmas.
More Joy
The joy of anticipation is in so many things people look forward to:
- Time off work.
- Friends and family.
- Good food.
- A bit more rest than the typical race-pace day.
- The sparkle of Christmas tree lights.
- Quality, well-written holiday music.
- A cozy fire in the fireplace.
- Neighborhood lights and decorations.
- Special goodies prepared ahead for celebrations.
- The joy of spying an early present under the tree from someone who couldn’t wait.
But there’s so much more to the joy of anticipation. Christmas reminds us that all history waited for a Baby to be born. Mary, Jesus’ mother, waited nine months to birth a baby she unexpectedly, miraculously conceived. God, Himself, waited for centuries for the right timing – to be stuffed into a tiny human child and become the promised sacrifice for sins. And another unique way God waits is by patiently stretching Christ’s return to earth just a bit longer. Why? Because of His deep love for lost people – not wanting anyone to perish. So even God waits.
In all these ways, waiting has something to do with the joy of anticipation.
Waiting Has Benefits
Waiting is both exciting in some aspects, and uncomfortable in other ways. We spend much of our lives waiting for something. So, maybe we should work at waiting better and making that stretch of time more meaningful.
Why not “milk it” of every bit of good? Let’s look at some of the benefits of waiting:
- It validates your patience with the reward of what you are waiting for.
- Time is the only way you come closer to what comes next. So, waiting helps you number your days better.
- Waiting trains your heart to trust God with resolve because things don’t always progress in the timing you picture in your head.
- Engaging uncomfortable wait periods strengthens your faith, even with unfinished circumstances.
- You develop more of Christ’s character as you train yourself to wait in faith.
- Waiting on God draws your heart close to Father’s heart as you nestle inside His love.
- When you sincerely praise the Lord as you wait for God’s timing, that faith action transforms you from your middle out.
- As you wait, you learn discipline, resolve, and patience.
- Waiting sometimes lets you share a tiny bit in Christ’s sufferings – or someone else’s sufferings. Incidentally, that can also be painful.
- Your experiences of waiting help others to be brave in their waiting.
- You can jot a to-do list and plan your approach as you wait.
- And you can pray.
So, focus on blessings as you wait. Even if your stomach is tied in knots with unknowns and responsibilities, focusing on good that’s still around you provides perspective in waiting.
Christmas Joy Of Anticipation
Of course, waiting at Christmas is hard, especially for children. Nevertheless, adults not only anticipate the joy of Christmas. They also instinctively know Christmas ends another year. A New Year approaches to set new goals and practice fresh ways of waiting.
Waiting can teach you how to relax into the person God created you to be. For example, even if you are suffering or going through a very difficult situation – you can practice the joy of Christmas anticipation in quiet, intimate, personal ways:
- Simply resting in Jesus.
- Enjoying His sweet presence.
- Soaking up His grace.
These “faith anticipations” open a door to joy deep in your heart because of the undeserved opportunity of knowing God as a dear Friend. What a gift from God. Friendship!
Christmas is filled with undeserved goodness from God who blesses those who seek His face and wait for Him. Lam. 3:24 says, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.”
Wait Well
Why not give intentional thought to wait well this Christmas? Why not purposefully wait well for the New Year? Incidentally, you can wait well for Christ’s imminent return to earth. By focusing on your relationship with Jesus – the Christmas Baby who grew up to be Emmanuel (God With You) – you open your heart to receive more of Him and His joy.
Scripture says, “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.” (Is. 64:4; 1 Cor. 2:9) So, wait well in every situation. Calm your heart and share moments with Jesus.
Why not let your waiting this Christmas be filled with worship, intimate fellowship with God, and periods of rest instead of hustle and bustle that can cheat you out of the joy of anticipation?
Incidentally, you can also purposefully target spending time with friends and loved-ones as you wait. Why not do something unexpected for an unsuspecting person God lays on your heart? That feeds joy of anticipation for you and the person receiving your thoughtfulness.
Sometimes it helps to just step away from too much preparation and simply enjoy. Things don’t have to be perfect. Just wait well.
The joy of anticipation is simple. It quiets your heart and aids your ability to simply be you and receive from God. Incidentally, a quiet spirit can get you through the hustle and bustle you can’t ignore. Focus to wait well.
Why not let go of “too much” Christmas preparation? Simplify your approach to include “much more” of what matters most.
Application Thoughts And Questions
- What are you waiting for this Christmas season?
- What is the hard part of your waiting?
- Where has “not waiting well” robbed you of the joy of anticipation?
- Why not start a tally of benefits of waiting as each day takes you closer to joyful Christmas celebrations?
- In what ways might you be doing “too much” and need to pull back as you prepare for Christmas?
- How can you begin to practice the skill to wait well?
- Make a mental list of “much more” that really matters in this season.
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