“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Luke 1:45 (NIV)

What if my hope leads to disappointment?
What if I embrace joy only to have it ripped from my hands?
What if I try but fail?

These are the questions we often ask as we stare into the unknown and wrestle with uncertainty.

I’m guessing you, like me, know what it’s like to encounter heartache that makes you hesitant to delight in your days and look to the future with an expectant heart. When we’ve experienced pain, it can be difficult to trust God’s promises. Pessimism is easier. Cynicism is safer. But the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah in Luke 1 extends a different invitation.

Both Elizabeth and Zechariah walked faithfully with God, even as they carried shame and grief in being unable to conceive a child. When the angel Gabriel visited Zechariah, assuring him that he would have a son, Zechariah was unable to release his doubt and embrace the good news. As a result, God silenced him for a period of time. (Luke 1:19-20)

Zechariah had known God as his Comforter but was unable to trust Him as his Celebrator. He wanted proof before deciding that joy was a good idea.

In contrast Elizabeth readily received God’s gift of grace, seeing beyond her personal experience to what is possible with God. (Luke 1:25; Luke 1:45) She was not entangled by doubt, nor did she allow the dread of what could happen to cause disbelief in God.

Honestly? I’m more like Zechariah. I long for a future that’s guarded with guarantees.

But, with God’s help, I’m growing toward having a heart like Elizabeth.

I want to recognize God in pain and joy and be unafraid to celebrate, knowing that God is present in both experiences.
I want to look into the unknown and choose to wonder about how God will move.
I want to say “yes” to a dream without weighing it down with ideas about everything that could go wrong.
I want to build plans with possibilities instead of problems.
I want to feel unafraid to laugh or cheer out loud in the face of good news.

It’s worth noting that Zechariah’s pessimism didn’t keep him from the promise. Though Zechariah was silenced for a time because of his doubt, God was faithful to His promise.

When hope feels scarce, sometimes we wonder if we need to demonstrate a certain level of faith before God is willing to intervene in our circumstances and bring breakthrough and healing. It’s easy to assume that our pain is the result of some sort of formula, our failure to be enough — good enough, strong enough, brave enough.

But God’s faithfulness to us doesn’t depend on our faith. His goodness is not a function of our goodness. There is simply so much joy available to us when we trust God and take Him at His word.

We don’t hope because of what we receive. We hope because of who we receive: the person and presence of Jesus Christ. No matter what the future holds, we can celebrate that God will be exactly who He says He is.

Looking ahead, will we allow our awe of God to expand beyond the limits of our own imagination? Will we hold an expectant heart, one that can celebrate God’s promises in the midst of all circumstances? And when faced with uncertainty, will we ask ourselves … What if it’s wonderful?

Heavenly Father, thank You that You are faithful to Your promises. Thank You for giving us a permanent reason to celebrate in Your Son, Jesus Christ. As we look toward our futures, give us the courage to celebrate You and hold expectant hearts. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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For further inspiration and a practical guide for moving from pessimism to celebrating your everyday life, pick up Nicole Zasowski’s popular new book, What If It’s Wonderful? And be sure to visit Nicole’s website where you can download a free guide to help you navigate your own “what-if” questions.

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FOR DEEPER STUDY

Joshua 21:45, “Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.” (NIV)

What’s one opportunity in your life right now to have an expectant heart by delighting in Christ’s character and promises?

© 2022 by Nicole Zasowski. All rights reserved.

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