Expectation or Expectancy?
Sue Tell, Guest Writer
TODAY’S TREASURE
"For your thoughts are not my thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9
Before arriving for a week-long writing workshop on Harvester, that one-mile by half-mile-wide island in the Gulf of Alaska, I landed at the Anchorage airport. I stood in front of a huge taxidermized moose, excitement oozing from my being. And I heard the whisper of God.
Sue, release expectations; embrace expectancy.
I understand release and embrace, but expectations and expectancy? How are they different? What was God saying? I went with it – whatever it meant. Was this huge Alaskan mammal a clue?
I had expectations, I was attending a writing workshop after all. I remembered the words of a friend who had gone to this writing workshop, Sue, it is so much more than a writing workshop, it is a wilderness adventure, a soul-stretching, soul-enriching experience. I was all in, and, I thought I understood her words.
In the past, I’ve attended retreats majoring in my soul. I have led retreats on the same topic. My memories created expectations. If I had let those expectations reign, I would have been disappointed. Harvester Island did not echo past experiences. Sue, release your expectations. Don’t let your past define your now. That was hard.
As the week progressed, I found myself telling myself, “Sue, be aware; be present. How is God meeting you?” That early Holy Spirit guidance was my key to expectancy.
Expectancy is anticipation that rests with God.
The fin whales outside the windows of our classroom were a turning point for me.
Our Tuesday morning writing class finished and we were gathered around our professors who were sitting with their backs to the windows on those tall professor-ish stools. Our questions poured out, then suddenly… fin whales – lots of them swimming on the surface of Uyak Bay. Along with my other new writing friends, I was facing the windows; and the whales caught our attention. They were letting out the breath they had been holding through those two blow holes on the top of their heads causing water to spout 30’ into the air. Our questions could wait. The whales became our teachers. Expectancy. Understanding was dawning.
Expectancy, being present, allowing God to lead.
LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
In the midst of this Alaskan wilderness, in the midst of this writing workshop, in the midst of God’s amazing creation that Tuesday morning something bigger than writing was happening. I was learning worship:
"For his (God’s) invisible attributes … have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made." Romans 1:19
God prompted me a second time – to release my expectations and embrace expectancy.
After my week on Harvester Island, my writing will never be the same. I learned to embrace how God was leading. I learned expectancy.
“The difference between waiting for our expectations to happen and waiting expectantly [with expectancy] for this moment to unfold is huge. Being present in what is; this is what matters. What is happening here and now is important. What goes on while I wait may become the foundation for some new undreamed of and unexpected future.” (Adele Calhoun) Invitations from God
"Expectancy is anticipation mingled with joy." (Ruth Chou Simons)
I wonder, is this not a good posture to assume all the time?
Might embracing expectancy look a bit like trust?
That early guidance – be aware, be present – was my key to expectancy. Expectancy rests with God; expectancy allows God to lead; expectancy is anticipation mingled with joy.
Expectation and expectancy have similar definitions. Embracing their nuances is embracing God, and that has the potential to be transformational.
Friends, practice expectancy this week by keeping a list of how God has shown up in unexpected ways each day!
God, what would it look like to trust You today with ___________? God, help me to release my expectations for ____________ and embrace expectancy. Amen.
Copyright: Sue Tell, March 2022, originally published 12/2/21, Echoes of Grace
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Susan Tell is the wife of William Tell, a great name if you want people to remember you. Mother of two married sons (one a PCA pastor), two delightful daughter-in-laws, and Mana (gramma) to six special gifts to our family, ages 2-16. Sue is a member of Village 7 Presbyterian where she enjoys the ministry of mentoring. Her ministry loves: writing, mentoring, and speaking, and she is the author of Echoes of Grace, written to invite readers to better understand life through the lens of God’s grace, suetell.com. Sue loves traveling - especially to warm places - with my husband. At home, walks with Molly (our Golden Retriever).
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Originally published Monday, 06 November 2023.
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