Expectation

"This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?" God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what's coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him!

That's why I don't think there's any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what's coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens."

This year hasn't started off well for me. I came across these verses one Sunday morning in church as we were reading Romans 8. They encouraged me then -- that my daily frustrations were quite small in comparison to the big picture.

Years ago, I remember now, these words inspired me to act, to move. Tonight, as I watch with anticipation to see voting results, I am not necessarily excited. I'm praying for a miracle, but I recognize that my personal political views probably are not the majority of America. At the same time, I couldn't help but feel today as though I was a part of something bigger. I have to fight the urge to feel like my vote didn't count (especially if my candidates/propsitions don't win) because they do. Each part makes a whole, right?

I don't think, with either president, that good times are coming soon. I think the labor pains are still in full force. I'm just trying to rest in knowing that my "Papa" knows that "coming good times" are better than what is. Better than the political arguments, better than lost lives in war and abortion, better than economic crisis. I'm trying to live out my beliefs proudly, knowing WHO is behind me.