Expectancy

     Trust includes a reliance on God’s pattern and purpose for our lives, even when to us it appears meaningless, purposeless, and unattainable. Deeper levels of trust lead to an overwhelming assurance that God is the God of the future as well as the past and present; the future is in his perfect control. As long as we respond to his love for us, we need not be anxious about that future: “Do not worry about anything” (Phil 4:6, emphasis mine). In chapter 6 of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus repeatedly forbids us to worry (see vv. 25-34). Of course, there is a place for legitimate concern, such as for the spiritual welfare and future salvation of your children. Yet such concern should not entail worry or anxiety.

     All worry is by its nature futuristic; no one can worry about the past (although thinking of the past may bring with it other negative emotions, like remorse, anger, and resentment). Worry is negative expectancy of the future.

     Waiting for the fulfillment of God’s providence is not worry; it’s simply patient waiting. Yet, without consummate trust, it is not easy to appreciate the mystery of God’s timing in this regard, especially as it relates to his apparent delays in anticipated future events. Our expectant waiting may be waiting for answer to our prayers, or waiting for Jesus’ second coming, or simply waiting to enjoy a problem-free heaven. However, such waiting has its built-in rewards: “Wait for the revealing of our Lord. He will strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 1:7-8, emphasis mine).

     When God’s unfolding providence or his answers to our prayers are delayed, he doesn’t often show us why, and even asking why shows a certain lack of faith. It requires a rare Spirit-breathed, person-focused kind of faith--that is, trust--even to refrain from asking why. Perhaps that kind of faith deficiency explains Jesus’ remark vis-à-vis faith in a futuristic context: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Lk 18:8).

This excerpt is from the book Pathways of Trust, by John H. Hampsch,C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications. It and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/visual materials can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408.