Waiting in Hope

Joanie Shawhan is an overcomer. Her belief in God's Word and trust in her Savior, Jesus, informs her choices about the struggles of life. It also teaches her how to wait in hope for the God who is in control. In this special Christmas UPGRADE, Joanie approaches the celebration of Advent with the desire to encourage each one of us to "wait in hope.""Mom could no longer manage another winter in her house," Joanie said. "We decided to sell her home and move her into assisted living by Christmas."

My husband and I (Dawn) and his extended family went through something similar with my husband's parents in 2021. It wasn't easy. There were so many challenges—opportunities to trust God. But through it all, we learned a lot about trusting God's timing, and waiting for Him to show Himself mighty. Like Joanie, we learned to "wait in hope."

How does this relate to Christmas?

Joanie continues . . .

Several buyers walked through the house, but they shook their heads. The house needed too much work.

I feared it wouldn’t sell.

Doubt and worry had whittled down my hope and left me exhausted.

A friend reminded me, “You only need one buyer.”

As I prayed, I sensed the Lord nudge me to declare “Jesus is Lord” over our situation. I prayed as God directed. I felt enveloped in a blanket of peace.

Once again, I engaged in the waiting process. But this time accompanied by a new faith and hope.

As I pondered waiting in hope, I was reminded of the Christmas story.

The Long, LO-O-O-ONG Wait!

For centuries, the Israelites waited and watched in hope for the coming of the promised Messiah. Even when they endured persecution and exile, they waited in hope. Against all odds, they believed God would fulfill His Word.

‘“The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior’” (Jeremiah 23:5-6 NIV).

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14 NIV).

Even though they trusted in God’s Word, did they understand these prophecies concerning the arrival of the Messiah?

It would be 700 YEARS LATER before the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary.

“Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:31-33 NIV).

Even Mary didn’t understand the Angel’s message. How could the words of this angel be fulfilled since she was still a virgin?

But Mary believed God. Little did Mary know how her “Yes” would not only change her, but would transform the world.

Mary's “yes” acknowledged the Lordship of God as she waited in hope.

When I declare “Jesus is Lord” over my situation, I acknowledge God’s sovereignty as I wait in hope. Even when I don’t understand God’s plan.

How does my declaration of  “Jesus is Lord” help me wait in hope?

• I replace my doubt and unbelief with faith.
• I surrender to the will of God by confessing, “Not my will, but yours be done.”
• I relinquish control of my circumstances. God is in control.
• I acknowledge that when I obey His Word, I am not responsible for the outcome of my situation. God is.
• I express my love for the Lord through my obedience.
• I worship God for who He is and not just for what He can do for me.

Even when I wait in hope, the answer to my prayers is not always the answer I desire. Sometimes I don’t understand why a loving God would allow His children to suffer various trials.

I wonder if Mary recalled Simeon’s words when the Romans nailed her beloved Son to the cross.

“Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’” (Luke 2:34-35 NIV).

Mary didn’t understand God’s plan either. Only later did she see the glory of God.

We may not see God’s glory in our situation on this side of eternity, but as we walk with the Lord, we trust He will be glorified.

Advent is a liturgical season of waiting. A time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus at Christmas.

The first of the four candles of advent is the candle of hope. Hope—a light shining in a dark place.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NIV).

We can wait in hope because God is faithful.

How are you waiting in hope during this advent season?

Joanie Shawhan shares true-life stories, offering her reader an eyewitness view of the action. Her Selah Awards Finalist book, In Her Shoes: Dancing in the Shadow of Cancer, reflects the value of “Your story plus my story become our stories.” An ovarian cancer survivor and registered nurse, Joanie speaks to medical students in the Survivors Teaching Students program. She co-founded an ovarian cancer social group: The Fried Eggs—Sunny-Side Up. Publishing credits include: Guideposts Divine Interventions, Snapshots of Hope & Heart, Wit, Whimsy & Wisdom, Life Repurposed, and We May Be Done But We’re Not Finished. Follow Joanie at www.joanieshawhan.com.

Christmas Graphic adapted, courtesy of TerriCnuddle at Pixabay.

Declare Your Allegiance

In America, the most common time we hear the word "allegiance" is when we say "The Pledge of Allegiance" to our flag. In this Spiritual Life UPGRADE, Dawn Wilson reminds us Christians have another—even more crucial—Pledge of Allegiance.

I recently read through the Apostle's Creed. Dating to about 400 AD, the creed was ascribed to Jesus' apostles. It's not something my particular church regularly reads or recites. But I wanted to read it and think about what it says.

Matt Chandler once said of the early church reciting this creed, "it was simultaneously their greatest act of rebellion and their greatest act of allegiance."

When the early church spoke those words, they knew they might face persecution or worse. While Rome declared Caesar lord (and dared anyone to deny it), Christians bravely stood against their culture and said, "No, Rome. JESUS is Lord."

There is much in our present-day culture—many voices—calling out for our loyalty and time. We need clear discernment to know our responsibilities toward our government and our Lord (Matthew 22:15-22).

We need to determine what matters for Christian life and growth, and more importantly, for the Kingdom of God.

We need to learn to spot unhealthy, unholy distractions, and then pursue biblical, right choices with purpose and passion—to "walk in wisdom" (Ephesians 5:15-17).

To declare or pledge allegiance is to give our loyalty or commitment to a cause or a person. For instance, one who wants to become an American citizen must swear allegiance to the republic.

Here are some truths I've learned about ALLEGIANCE to JESUS.

1. Allegiance to Jesus is more than mouthing loyalty.

Allegiance speaks of heart-felt loyalty, faithfulness, devotion and obedience. Perhaps this is why we put our hands over our hearts when we recite America's pledge.

I remember saying two pledges, the "Pledge to the Christian Flag" and the "Pledge to the Bible," as a little girl in a a group called Pioneer Girls. The idea of loyalty to God, His Kingdom, His people and His Word stuck with me over the years—even before I became a true Christian.

I had a growing sense of the cost of complete loyalty to God.

Later, I would learn Jesus said, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62); and Paul wrote about a man named Demas who forsook Paul and the ministry because of his greater love for the world (2 Timothy 4:10).

I knew there could be no sitting on the fence or wavering. Wavering would not please God. I needed to follow the Lord by faith (James 1:6; Romans 4:20).

2. Allegiance to Jesus is a decision.

In Sunday school, I sang, "I have decided to follow Jesus; no turning back, no turning back." Yet I didn't know the Lord in a personal way. I only knew a lot about Him.

In 1971, an evangelist confronted me with the terrible truth. I had acted the part of the Christian for many years, but I did not genuinely know Him. I felt deep grief with that realization and the heavy weight of my guilt.

I had mouthed my loyalty to Christ, but I lived like I belonged to the devil. The only "fruit" in my life was self-planted and generated.

I could hear Jesus saying, "Depart from me... I never knew you" (Matthew 7:21-23).

I was saying one thing and living another, and that dissonance led to spiritual chaos in my heart and life.

But once I trusted Jesus to save me from my sin and transform my life, all of those words and songs about allegiance came rushing back.

And then some time later, I heard the lyrics to a song that reminded me of the great cost that might be required if I pledged my loyalty to Jesus. (View a powerful video with the song—it made me weep—here.)

"I pledge allegiance to the Lamb with all my strength, with all I am. I will seek to honor His commands; I pledge allegiance to the Lamb."

3. Allegiance to Jesus is a lifestyle.

I decided I didn't want to be double-minded (James 4:8), toying with the enemy. I wanted to be clean before God. I knew I had to stop listening to Satan's suggestions. I had to stop believing the culture's lies. I had to live in light of eternity.

Allegiance—loyalty to Jesus—isn't just a concept; it's meant to be a lifestyle.

• It means taking up the cross of Christ, no matter the cost (Mark 8:34-35).
• It means boldness to declare the Gospel (Romans 1:16).
• It means obedience to the Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit (1 John 3:24).

Simply knowing who is in charge, the Sovereign Lord, has uncomplicated many of my choices.

I am to obey Him (Luke 6:46):

• immediately,
• joyfully,
• and without reservation.

Once a Christian declares allegiance to Christ, every day is a continuing surrender process of saying “Yes, Lord”—even if it is sometimes challenging. And that surrender gives us direction and peace.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said, “You are Lord and I am not;” and each time I sighed, sensing the release of complete trust.

4. Allegiance to Jesus Means No More Rivals.

As I've become more like Jesus, bit by bit through the work of the Spirit of God, I've found  allegiance means no more rivals.

It's been disconcerting to discover big and little idols that compete for my loyalty to Christ.

• My food idol—Gluttony
• My money idol—being a Shopoholic
• My pride idol—"It's all about me."

Shall I go on? The enemy wants to sidetrack me with all sorts of idols.

But the Spirit keeps whispering, "Is Jesus Lord ... or not?"

We all have idols—our own private and public expressions: unhealthy pursuits, success without God, leisure, money and power, sexual appetites.

But when we declare our allegiance to Jesus as the Lord of all life—the Lord of OUR life—He desires to expose and conquer the power of every idol that claims HIS rightful place to rule us, bless us and delight our hearts.

Have you declared your allegiance to Jesus? Do you know Him, love Him, and desire to serve and obey Him as Lord?

What are some of your "rivals" for His rightful place in your heart?

Dawn Wilson, founder and President of Heart Choices Today, is a speaker and author, and the creator of three blogs: Heart Choices Today, LOL with God and Upgrade with Dawn. She is a contracted researcher/reviewer for Revive Our Heartsand a writer at Crosswalk.com. She and her husband Bob live in Southern California and have two grown, married sons, three granddaughters and a rascally maltipoo, Roscoe.

Graphic adapted, courtesy of Robin Higgins at Pixabay.