The Sacred Art of Waiting: Finding Hope in Anticipation

       We live in a culture that despises waiting, yet Advent reminds us that waiting is central to the Christian life. Psalm 130 captures this reality with its raw cry from the depths—a picture of the deep longings we all carry. Our desires for healing, restoration, clarity, or change are real, and Scripture doesn’t dismiss them; instead, it redirects our focus toward God, who meets us in those very depths.
       In this waiting, the psalm challenges us to distinguish between expectation and anticipation. Expectations demand that God fulfill our plans in our way, setting us up for disappointment when He doesn’t follow our script. Anticipation, however, trusts God without dictating the outcome. It allows us to say, “I’m eager to see what You’ll do,” believing that His wisdom exceeds our wants and that even closed doors or unanswered prayers may be gifts rather than denials.
        The psalm then grounds waiting in the reality of forgiveness. “With you there is forgiveness” reveals that our greatest need has already been met through Christ, whose sacrifice makes it possible to stand before God at all. When we trust Him with something as immense as our salvation, we can trust Him with our present circumstances. Waiting becomes worship—an act of declaring God’s trustworthiness and aligning our hearts with His timing, like watchmen longing for the morning.
        As Advent invites us to reflect, we’re called to approach God not with rigid expectations but with open-handed anticipation. Scripture reminds us that God is full of steadfast love and plentiful redemption, making Him profoundly worth waiting for. Like Abraham, Israel, and generations awaiting the Messiah, we wait—actively, faithfully, and hopefully. The question remains: will we learn to wait well?

Transformation Group Guide: Waiting in Advent

Key Scripture
Psalm 130:1-8 (Read aloud together)

Main Takeaways

1. Waiting is a posture of anticipation in God - not expectation based on our desires
2. To anticipate what God might do makes God central; to expect of God makes me central
3. Forgiveness is the foundation for faithful waiting - we can trust God in our waiting because He's already met our greatest need
4. Waiting is one of our greatest weapons against the enemy - it demonstrates trust and dependence on God

Discussion Questions

1. Pastor Josh distinguished between "expectation" and "anticipation." In your own words, what's the difference? Why does this distinction matter?
2. Why does the psalmist spend verses 1-4 talking about forgiveness before addressing waiting in verses 5-8? What's the connection?
3. Honest Assessment: What are you currently waiting on God for? Share if you're comfortable.

4. The sermon asked: "Do you need to repent of expectations and change your posture to anticipations?" How would you answer that question for yourself?
5. Read Psalm 130:5-6 again. The psalmist says "my soul waits for the Lord" three times and says he looks "in His word." How consistent is your time in God's Word when you're in seasons of waiting? What gets in the way?
6. Pastor Josh said, "What if your answered prayer is actually not unanswered at all? What if it's just an expectation that was never met that the Lord never promised?" Has there been a time when you realized God was answering differently than you expected? What did that teach you?
7. The sermon stated: "Waiting is one of the greatest weapons we have against the enemy." What do you think this means practically? How does waiting demonstrate faith?

8. The pastor shared several "what if" questions:
   • What if God knows what you need more than you do?
   • What if His withholdings are gifts and not curses?
   • What if spouselessness or childlessness has a greater purpose?
9. Which of these challenges you most? Why?

Application

11. This Week's Challenge: The sermon emphasized looking for the Lord in His Word while we wait. What specific commitment can you make this week to spend time in Scripture? (Be specific: when, where, how long, which book?)
12. Worship Through Waiting: Verse 4 says God forgives "that you may be feared" (worshiped). How can you worship God this week even while waiting for something you deeply desire?
13. Accountability Question: Who in this group can you check in with this week about how you're waiting? Would anyone be willing to be an accountability partner around this?

Choose 1-2 to focus on this week:

• Daily Reminder: Write this definition somewhere visible: "Waiting is a posture of anticipation in God." Read it each morning this week.
• Scripture Memory: Memorize Psalm 130:5 - "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope."
• Prayer Shift: When you pray this week about what you're waiting for, start by thanking God for your forgiveness in Christ, then ask Him to help you anticipate what He might do rather than demand what you want.
• Journal Prompt: Complete this sentence each day: "Today I'm choosing to wait with anticipation by..."
• Expectation Audit: Make a list of expectations you're bringing to God. Ask yourself: "Did God promise this? Or is this my desire?" Surrender each one to Him.

Closing Question:
How does knowing God's love is steadfast and His redemption is plentiful change how you'll wait this week?

Facilitator Notes

• Create space for honest sharing about disappointments in waiting
• Be sensitive to those experiencing difficult seasons of unanswered prayer
• Emphasize grace - we're all learning to wait better, not perfectly
• Consider sharing your own struggle with waiting to model vulnerability