Expectation and Rest

I was eavesdropping: my husband talking to our daughters.

Did you read the owner's manual on how to do that? No.

And to the other, Did you make that appointment? No.

And then, One day Daddy's not going to be here, and then what will you do? 

Normally, I would have shot him a look of approval; my husband does many things for our children, including encourage independence. Normally, I would have given a smirk and a nod, imagining their faces as the reality dawned on them. But this day, I realized just how right he is, and how much grief our girls will one day know. There was no look of approval, I didn't want him to see how I'd begun to tear up. There was no smirk or nod, just an instant dread at the thought of these girls being without their father. They have no idea how great a loss that will be, I thought.

The other morning, I was reading Luke's account of Jesus' death on the cross. Jesus was crucified between two thieves. In this day and age, stealing something doesn't seem to be that huge an offense, certainly not worth dying for. But, maybe these thieves stole from the lame or the sick; maybe these thieves assaulted their victims in the commission of their theft; maybe these thieves stole from poor defenseless old ladies who were left destitute. Maybe these thieves were the lowest of the low. But one asks Jesus to remember him, and Jesus assures him that he would be with Him in paradise. Someone whose crimes were so heinous he deserved death had the audacity to ask Jesus-- who'd been executed unjustly and was in unimaginable pain --for a pardon. And not just any pardon, a pardon with a place in Jesus' kingdom! In fact, Luke is the only author who records this interaction; the other gospel authors say both criminals mocked Jesus. How could this thief, this fool think Jesus would give him the time of day much less a place in His kingdom? Never mind his crimes which sent him to this place, what about the things he said to Jesus while he was there?

Because that's who Jesus is. As three men hung dying, hour after hour, one came to realize the innocent Man suffering beside him truly was a King, a King gracious and forgiving enough to grant him a pardon and a place. The repentant thief had no confidence in himself but had every confidence and assurance in the One who suffered alongside him. Because of Christ's character, and not because of his own, he could ask such a thing. Because of Christ's character, and not of our own, we can ask such a thing.

My husband is good to our children and to me --even when we don't deserve it. We appreciate his kindness and protection though we don't always show it. We covet his presence though we don't always stop to breathe in the moments he is with us. But, we continue to ask, we continue to expect-- not because we deserve it --because that is just who he is. To seek him is second nature because he has never let us down. We rest in his love for us and his benevolence.

As human beings, we all tend to take things for granted, to focus on the temporal and assume things will always be this way, to try to scoop up as much blessing and happiness as we can in this difficult, broken world. Although it's a nature that should be crucified daily, let's not forget how, because of our Father's love for us, our Savior's gracious nature, and the Holy Spirit's power we have the confidence to expect He will not fail us, we have the authority to ask, we have the certainty to know He will always be there. We can expect without taking for granted. We can rest in our relationship as well as give thanks for the pardon and place He so abundantly grants.