Confetti Ready
My son’s family have lived in a tiny little apartment for several years. It was small when they moved in, but over the years it seemed to shrink. Their plan had been to get their feet on the ground in Seattle and then find an affordable house. They tucked away a dollar here and there in hopes that they would have the money needed to initiate a move. Different circumstances bombarded them snatching the house fund over and over. There had been many disappointments, and yet they kept a grateful heart that they had a place to live in the city that they love.
As the pandemic grew from weeks to months and now almost a year, the tiny space squeezed them tighter and tighter each day. Practically every space became a school room or a make shift office. This family of five were definitely feeling the side effects of the “shut down.” Emotions were heightened from the squeeze with the bathroom or sidewalk being the only place to be alone. Something had to change.
The time seemed right to explore the possibility of finding a home with adequate space for this new way of life. Looking at new homes brought great anticipation to all five of them. Their hopes escalated as they seemed to have the top offer on the table, but time after time the table was overturned and they lost the bid. Discouragement came knocking on their door of hope almost daily and the family was suffocating.
They intentionally sat calmly awaiting the decision on their most recent offer, feeling like this just might be it. They wanted to be excited, but they knew that it could be one more disappointment, so they squelched the urge to shout and dance in hopes of celebrating Christmas in a new home, with space to breathe again.
Late that night the answer came. Yes, they were selected from among the other offers as the new tenants of the newly renovated house.
The text read: “We got the house. We can move in on Friday.”
A new home for Christmas! The waiting had turned to reality.
When I received the video of my granddaughter, Sadie, I could not contain the tears. Upon hearing the news, Sadie ran to her room and returned to the family room with confetti. Her declaration was a huge statement of faith.
“I prepared the confetti last night in expectation of the answer being yes today.”
With great joy and celebration she threw the confetti into the air as all celebrated this wonderful event in their family. Together they sacrificed. Together they had paid the price. Together they had prayed, prepared, searched and today was the day that God chose to answer.
Why don’t we live Confetti Ready?
Why don’t we prepare the confetti ahead of time, knowing that God hears us and He will answer in His time and in His way. We know that His ways are always best. It is sad that we live expecting disappointment more than receiving the desires of our heart. We all know the saying, “If you don’t get your hopes up, you won’t get disappointed.”
But why not live expectant? Confetti Ready? Isn’t that what faith is?
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1
Faith prepares while it waits.
You may find yourself in a really tight place right now feeling like you can hardly breathe. The walls of life may be pressing and clinching the joy right out of you. You may be asking and seeking, yet one disappointment after another comes your way. All of the “no’s” lead to God’s best. Please let me encourage you today. Prepare your confetti in expectation of God answering at just the right time.
You know, we should all be cutting up the pieces of paper right now. Prepare the confetti. In faith, pull out the paper and start cutting. Plan the party. Put on your dancing shoes. I think confetti will be part of our new Christmas family traditions. Celebrate the Long awaited King that came to save the world and will one day soon, return for His Bride. Celebrate this King of Kings that is joy to all the world. Celebrate that it is always worth the wait when we trust in Him with all of our heart.
Enjoy and be encouraged by these “Confetti Ready” verses:
"In the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation."
(Psalm 5:3 NIV)
And in Psalm 27:14 (AMP), David urges us: "Wait and hope for and expect the Lord.”
Psalm 130:5 (TLB) says, "I wait expectantly, trusting God to help, for He has promised.”
The Lord is good to those who hopefully and expectantly wait for Him." (Lamentations 3:25 AMP)
"I will keep expecting You to help me. I praise You more and more.”
(Psalm 71:14 TLB)
Lord, teach us how to pray with an attitude of expectancy. Guard us from the fear and doubt that would hinder us from receiving an answer. In times of waiting, give us great expectation that will sustain us with Your peace and joy. Your ways are so worth waiting for.