[Who's Your One? Series] Through the Roof Sample

Eager Expectation Fuels our Faith

Discouragement is part of life. If you are alive, sooner or later you will face this “unwanted friend.” Unfortunately, some of us encounter it too often. Sometimes discouragement appears as soon as we set off on a new, exciting, and challenging journey. It is the villain nobody wants to face but that we all encounter. 

What causes us to run into this “unwanted friend”? Obstacles. They can either paralyze you or challenge you to see things from a different perspective. Let me tell you a story about a group of men who wanted to help their paralyzed friend. They had heard that Jesus was visiting their town and that the power of the Lord was with Him to heal the sick (Luke 5:17). They said, “This is our friend’s chance to be healed! We must take him to the house where Jesus is teaching.” So, they carried him towards the house to lay him before Jesus. 

Can you feel their excitement? Their eager expectation fueled their faith. They got there as soon as they could, but the excitement could have left them pretty quickly. Their intention—to lay their friend in front of Jesus so that He could heal him—was immediately hindered by an obstacle. The house was packed, and there was no way that they could bring their friend through the crowd on his bed. They could have easily become discouraged, but they chose not to. How did they overcome discouragement? By facing the obstacle. 

The Bible tells us that when they could not find a way to lay their friend in front of Jesus because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him, on his mat, into the middle of the crowd—right in front of Jesus! Can you believe their creativity? Nothing could stop them from helping their beloved friend. 

Do you have a friend who is in desperate need of a miracle? These men had such a big expectation for a miracle for their friend that they did everything that was in their power to get him to the feet of Jesus. The exciting part is that Jesus not only healed this man, but He also forgave his sins. When we trust Jesus eagerly, He surprises us with a blessing that surpasses our wildest dreams and imagination.

Do you find yourself having a low expectation of what God can do for you, your friends, and your family? How much do you trust Him? Expect great things to happen because when you come into the presence of the Creator of the universe; you cannot expect less than the extraordinary. 

God wants us to have an eager expectation this year. He would love to see us trusting Him and expecting Him to blow us away with what He can do for our beloved friends and us!

Wait expectantly! Make your request in His presence and wait for Him to act, but do so expectantly.