Romans 5:5 from the Message Bible says this, “In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary – we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!” (emphasis is mine)
I love that! “In alert expectancy…we’re never left feeling shortchanged.”
In Acts 3:5, the man who was laid by the gate called Beautiful, looked at the disciples with expectation of receiving something from them. His initial expectation was to receive either silver or gold. Once Peter and John said they didn’t have any silver or gold, the expectancy changed in a moment. The expectancy went from financial to miraculous. Do you think the healed man felt short-changed? Not at all!
In leading up to Romans 5:5 we know it is from experience that we gain this expectancy. It is through experience that we are in alert expectancy. Earlier, the Scripture states that tribulation worketh patience. Though, how does tribulation work patience and how does that lead to standing here in alert expectancy?
In our trouble and trials, we finally say, “I have tried everything that I know to do. I have tried to make this or that happen on my own. Now, I will just wait on you, God.” In waiting on God we learn patience, and patience turns into experience. While we are waiting, we begin to experience the love and faithfulness of God.
Experience then turns into hope or expectancy. Why? The next time a trial comes my way, I can look back to the previous experience and rejoice, knowing God came through for me before. Since He came through before, and He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever, He will come through again. This gives me Hope!
Hope is the absolute expectation that the goodness of God is coming. Therefore, I stand in absolute alert expectancy, that God’s timing is always right, His provision is always perfect, and His grace is always sufficient. I know that I will not be shortchanged by God. I know I have the expectation that His plans for me will come about in my life.
I believe that the Psalmist, when He wrote about how we were to come into the presence of God, was speaking of expectancy.
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.” Psalms 100:4 (New Living Translation)
You haven’t even arrived into His presence, but you already have thanksgiving and praise happening in your life, because you have learned by experience that when you get into His presence amazing things happen. Thus, the next time you are on your way, the expectancy creates the thanksgiving and the praise. Because you know, you are in alert expectation that God is getting ready to pour something out on you. When He pours it on you, you will not be able to have enough containers to put all that He’s poured out into!