Hope of All the Earth Thou Art

Christmas is such a festive time of year. Lights start to twinkle from neighborhood homes, holiday music begins to play (sometimes much earlier than we would prefer), and beautifully wrapped presents appear under the tree.
 
Growing up an only child, watching the presents under the tree multiply brought great excitement and anticipation. I don’t remember all of the gifts that were received, but I do remember the ones that made the biggest impact, like a much-anticipated supply of Barbie dresses and shoes, which led to playing dress up with my dolls next to my mom’s bed for hours on end. But there were also times I anticipated one gift but received something different. As I grew older, I learned sometimes the grown-ups knew that what I needed outweighed what I wanted.
 
Sometimes our relationship with God can be that way too. We ask for something and wait with eager anticipation, only to receive something different. At times it can be confusing and frustrating. But as we grow in maturity, we learn that God’s good plan for our life doesn’t always match the expectation of our own plan.
 
The characters we read about in the Christmas story had a similar experience. The Israelites had long awaited a Messiah, and finally He enters the scene. Angels proclaimed His birth to a group of shepherds. Wise men followed a star to the place where Christ was born. Many, such as Anna the prophetess, proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah (Luke 2:36–38).
 
The hope of the nation was in this tiny, precious babe. The hope that He would overthrow rulers and dominions. That at last there would be peace and favor for Israel. They expected a mighty king who would be a powerful political ruler. However, that was not the case. Much like in our own lives, the anticipation and expectation that was placed on Jesus by the Israelites was not exactly the blueprint that our Sovereign God had in mind.
 
God’s plan was to bring freedom not just from oppressors, but from the most oppressing thing of all — our own sin. God’s grace and love was not just for Israel, but for the world (John 3:16). His perfect plan made a way for you and I to partake in His perfect gift, Jesus.
 
And even though our mind knows all those things, and we believe it in our heart, we all too quickly become like the Israelites and we impose our expectations on our Messiah. We expect him to grant us ease and provision and peace. And when He doesn’t act on our expectations, we balk and we get discouraged and we begin to wonder why. The answer to that question is simple, but in our humanity it can leave us wanting. The reason why things aren’t easy is because He did not promise ease. The reason we complain about provision is because His provision doesn’t always look and feel like what we would have chosen. The reason we don’t feel joy is because our eyes are off the mark and fixed on our desires.
 
The Nativity was all about surrendering expectations. Mary surrendered her plans and body to God, even though His ways were not her ways (Luke 1:38). Joseph surrendered his future and his reputation to God, even though His ways were not Joseph’s ways (Matthew 1:24,25). Jesus surrendered to His father in a sacrificial act of obedience that would take Him from the manger to the cross, saying “Not my will but yours” (Luke 22:42). The Israelites had to surrender their plan for a warrior king when their savior was born as a humble baby who was killed before He ever sat enthroned on earth. And yet through all of those events that did not meet human expectation, God’s gift was better.
 
As you meditate on this season of Advent and expectancy, what are you expecting Jesus to do? Does what you want Him to do line up with what He wants to do? Can your gift to the Savior be a heart that is fully surrendered and hands that fully release the things that you are holding on to so desperately?
 
Our God’s plan is more impactful than any expectation placed upon Him. His will for your life is so much more than anything you can choose for yourself.
 
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20,21
 
 Written by Josie Ramirez, director of children’s ministry at Grace Community Church of Seal Beach in Seal Beach, Calif., as part of an advent series titled, “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus.”