I have never liked waiting and yet, waiting has been a huge part of my life. I’m sure waiting is somewhat difficult for all of us, but if you’re a person like me who’s obsessed with the future, waiting can be so painful. I get excited about things pretty easily. I love imagining what could be true in the future – for my family, for our church, and for the things I would love to experience one day. Part of my role here at Epic is to make sure I’m always gaining a vision for the future and then casting that vision to our community.

When you’re always longing for something that’s in the future, waiting becomes a daily reality in your life.

We’re all waiting for something. You could be waiting to get to see your family over the holidays. You might be waiting for your citizenship to happen. Perhaps you’re waiting to get final numbers from your company to see if you fully earned your year-end bonus. Some of you are still waiting to have children. We’re waiting to see what 2024 is going to bring for all of us. And as John Mayer sings, “We keep waiting, waiting, waiting on the world to change.”

We’re all waiting for something, but we’re not all waiting in the same way. All waiting carries with it anticipation and expectation. And both of these things are determined by our mindsets while we’re waiting.

Are you anticipating and expecting bad news or good news?

I am not saying there isn’t bad news coming in our world or in your life. There certainly will be bad news in our world and in each of our lives. But I think it really matters what you’re expecting as you’re waiting.

Psalm 112:6-8 Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.

Notice that the psalmist doesn’t say there won’t be bad news; just that we don’t have to fear the bad news. There’s a way to have a steadfast heart while we’re waiting. We can have secure hearts that aren’t dominated by what we’re afraid of. Or as the title of our series indicates:

It is possible to wait without fear.

If you were to ask me where I’ve grown the most throughout 2023, I would tell you that my greatest growth and transformation this year has been in my MINDSET. I’ve had friends and mentors speak into this and that’s helped me. I’ve read some incredible books on this topic. Here’s the difference it’s made for me: I have more confidence than I’ve ever had in my entire life. And I’m expecting a better future than I’ve ever expected before. Here’s one of the things that’s helped me the most.

My friend, Joseph Barkley, shared something with me that has changed my anticipation and expectation as I think about what’s ahead in my future. Here’s what he basically told me:

It’s just as easy to believe something positive about your future as it is to believe something negative about your future.

And yet, many of us tend to imagine things going really bad.

What would change in your life if you started imagining the unknown things in your future going really well?

I think God wants this transformation for us. Honestly, I believe He wants us to be so confident in His character and His plans for our lives…that we are looking for and expecting good in our future. I mean, isn’t this why God has this response all throughout this drama we call Scripture – “Do not be afraid!”

Are you open to changing how you anticipate and expect what’s unknown about your future?

Luke 1:1-20 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged  to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

When Mary was first told by the angel that she would give birth to Jesus, this kicked off a “waiting” season in her life. Anticipation and expectation and so many questions filled these 9 or 10 months while she was waiting for all that was going to take place.

Like Mary, we too live in a world that’s ruled by powerful people. This is one of the truths that causes us to be afraid and to anticipate bad news. So how can we live with more faith and with less fear? By trusting that God is sovereign over everyone and everything else. There’s a Scripture that has helped me so much whenever I’ve faced what seemed like impossible circumstances, especially because of the people who held the power.

Proverbs 21:1 In the LORD’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.

At this moment in history, Caesar Augustus issues a decree. God just so happens to use this to fulfill His word about where the Messiah would be born.

Do you believe your life is ultimately in good hands or evil hands?

There’s so much in this text to marvel at, but I want to point out a 3-word phrase that shows up in verse 6: THE TIME CAME.

When we are waiting, we’re wondering, “Will the time ever come?”

I asked this when we were trying to bring our daughter, Kavita, home from India?

We all asked this when we were dealing with the pandemic and wondering when it would be over. And I’m sure you may be asking it now about all kinds of things.

Mary had to wait 9 or 10 months from hearing about this until the time came.

But don’t forget – this prophecy came from Isaiah 700 years earlier. 10 months of waiting is difficult…but waiting on something for 700 years?! That’s a little more challenging.

But the time came for this baby to be born. And Paul would say it this way in hindsight as he considered this moment for Mary:

Galatians 4:4-7 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might received adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

When you realize God sent Jesus to make you His heir, you begin to anticipate and expect a glorious future.

Then you have an angel appearing to shepherds. This TERRIFIED them…I bet so. Shepherds were outcasts. Their work made them unclean, which kept them from even being able to worship at the temple. These shepherds probably didn’t have much of a vision for their future. They simply anticipated and expected more of the same. So when an angel shows up to where they are, they aren’t anticipating this to be good news.

You don’t expect to find good news when you’re convinced you deserve bad news.

This is the miracle of an angel showing up to these shepherds. “Do not be afraid, because I’m not here to give you bad news. I am here to give you good news, the best news the world has ever known.” The Greek word “euangelizo” is a verb, but the noun form “euangelion” is the word that gets translated “gospel”.

Good news of great joy for all the people. By coming to Shepherds with this news, God is telling the world, “It’s not just the religious or the noble who can live their lives expecting good news…this is for everyone, everywhere.” This means it’s for you.

A Savior has been born today. And here’s a sign to you – you will find this baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Then you have this great company of angels praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem to see this thing that has happened.”

What are you seeking, really?

What are you after? It’s fascinating to me that we tend to find what we are seeking. If you are expecting to find hurt, you will find it. If you’re looking for something to be anxious about, it’s there too. If you’re looking for something to be afraid of, there’s plenty of scary stuff out there. But if you’re searching for a path to true peace, I bet you might find it also. If you’re after genuine joy, I imagine you’ll discover that too.

The shepherds found things just as they had been told. They returned to the same job in the same fields with the same sheep. Surely they would experience plenty of bad news in the future, just like you and I will. But they had encountered the Savior…they had become convinced that God keeps his word…and that just like they were caring for their sheep…they had met The Good Shepherd who ultimately had their lives in His hands, which meant they could anticipate and expect the best news about their future.

When they had seen Jesus, they spread the word. We’re surrounded by a world that’s gotten really good at expecting and anticipating bad news. And we’ve been given the best news that’s intended for all people, in all places.

Response: Receive this good news; place your life into the good hands of the Good Shepherd, Jesus…the Savior of the world

We’re going to light these candles in the midst of a dark room. I want you to see that this is what happens in your heart, mind, and life, when you anchor your faith to the greatest news the world has ever known. Yes, darkness comes…but you are the light of the world as you anticipate seeing Jesus. Jesus is going to bring an end to all our pain and darkness. Hold onto your faith in Him. Because a Savior has come into the world, when we see Him face to face, we will all say, “This was so WORTH THE WAIT!!!”