Anticipation Leads to Preparation

Right now, my girls are anticipating their very first airplane ride. And honestly, anticipation might not even be the right word. They are beyond excited. The kind of excitement that leads to endless questions:

What do we pack?

When do we leave?

What can we bring?

What happens first?

That excitement has turned into preparation—packing, planning, buying, organizing. Nothing about this trip is accidental. It’s all being thought through.

Last year, my husband chased a long-time dream on his own when he headed to Twins Fantasy Camp. I wrote about that experience in a post called Chasing a Dream. This year looks different. This time, my girls and I are tagging along for the experience too. And watching them prepare for something they’ve never experienced before has made me think about another kind of anticipation the Bible talks about.

The Bible tells us to anticipate the day Jesus returns.

“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout…”—1 Thessalonians 4:16

If I’m honest, my excitement level for that day doesn’t always match my girls’ excitement about this trip. But anticipation in the Bible isn’t just about emotion—it’s about preparation. So what does that kind of preparation look like in everyday life?

Packing & Buying: What Am I Really Investing In?

When we pack for a trip, we’re limited. We choose carefully because we can’t bring everything. In the same way, we won’t carry our earthly treasures into eternity.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”—Matthew 6:19–20

If I can’t take my things with me, then my focus needs to shift. For me, that looks less like accumulating and more like trusting. Less freaking out and more resting in who God is. It looks like building my relationship with Him and paying attention to the people He’s placed in my life—helping others know Him too.

And it shows up in practical places. My spending tells a story. My Amazon account tells a story. Do those choices reflect generosity and trust? Or comfort and convenience?

Planning: Faithful in the Small Things

Trips don’t go well without a plan. Neither does spiritual growth.

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”—2 Peter 3:18

Growth usually looks ordinary. It’s built through small choices—opening my Bible, praying when it feels routine, showing up consistently.

Last week, Pastor Joe preached about being more than hearers of the Word—we’re called to be doers. He also mentioned that only about 6% of people will remember a sermon a week later. It’s a week later… and I still remember!

Hearing alone doesn’t shape us; living it out does. Anticipation shows up not in Sunday words, but in what we practice on Monday.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”—James 1:22

(Link to sermon — he starts preaching at 25 minutes.)

Organizing: What Gets My Time and Attention?

As I organize for this trip, I’m constantly deciding what matters—and what doesn’t. What to bring. What to leave behind. It’s prioritizing and eliminating.

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”—Colossians 3:2

Living with anticipation means making those same decisions day after day. What gets my time. What gets my energy. What I hold tightly—and what I let go of.

My girls’ excitement has been a reminder that anticipation shapes preparation. And preparation shapes how we live right now.

I may not always feel a rush of excitement about Jesus’ return—but I can choose to live like I believe it’s true. Faithful in the small things. Focused on what lasts.

Because anticipation isn’t just about waiting.

It’s about how we live while we do.

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