Expectant Part 2 ~ For Parents

Not being a mom, I was recently surprised, humbled and touched when I was asked to do a devotional for a baby shower. I don’t know much about cloth diapers, late-night feedings or the best pacifier, but thankfully God’s Word is sufficient for all of life. I adapted that devotion for this blog.

Last week I wrote about being expectant. One of the first things I think of when I hear that word is parents expecting a baby. The blog was not about that, but as I wrestled with ideas for this devotion, I kept coming back to the idea of being expectant.

As you look forward to being a parent or already are, there are probably many things that you expect: dirty diapers, sleepless nights, mounds of laundry, first giggles, words, steps and snuggles. Later you may expect the first day of school, being a taxi for all your child’s activities, your child getting their driver’s license and graduations. There will likely be many unexpected things along the way too.

I want to encourage you to be expectant of God. Be expectant of His transforming work in you as you parent. Just as marriage is one of God’s primary ways of growing us, parenting likewise reveals our sin issues as well as the gifts God has given us and the fruit of the Spirit.

Psalm 27 is one of my favorite Psalms. Verse 14 is an affirmation of expectancy. “Wait for the Lord’ be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” David waited, expecting that God would act, but it wasn’t a passive waiting.

David began the Psalm calling the Lord his light, salvation and stronghold. In verse 4, he says the one thing he has asked of the Lord and is seeking after is to dwell in the house of the Lord, gaze upon God’s beauty and inquire in God’s temple. The best thing you can do for your child it to seek the Lord first, dwell on His beauty, worship Him, know His character. Then wait expectantly that God will use your example in your child’s life. May your child always see Jesus in and through you. May they witness an authentic faith, a conviction of things not seen.

In this Psalm David also talks about his enemies. They encamp around him. War is rising, but David’s response is crying to God (verse 7) and being confident because he knows who his God is. Even in Christian homes and with parents who adore their children, there will be days when you feel surrounded, and it seems like a war zone. I’m guessing when your toddler learns the word no and is constantly using it will be one of those war zone times or when they hit those pre-teen and teen years and seek to be more independent. It may just be a day when you are exhausted from all the activity and you still need to make dinner and give kids their baths and you haven’t even had a shower yourself. But be expectant of your Heavenly Father.

David said God was his light and salvation. God is present with you on the good days and bad. His Spirit and His Word will guide and uphold you. He is your stronghold and shelter. Chaos may surround you on a given day, but there is rest in the One who loves and cares for you. He hears your cries and answers with understanding. He has been dealing with His children for thousands of years.

Verse 13-14 ends the Psalm with, “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

You can be expectant that you will see God’s goodness in this life. God’s goodness isn’t always what we deem good, but we can expectantly wait for God to be working the good of transforming His children to the image of His perfect Son. Whether you have a smooth sailing parenting day or a failed-miserably parenting day, You have Christ’s perfect record. God is still with you. He still loves you, and He is still working good. Be expectant of what He is doing!