Living in Expectation:
Preparing Our Hearts and Reaching Others as We Await Christ’s Return
Waiting for the return of Christ, our King, isn’t a time of dread but of joyful anticipation, filled with purpose. We’re called to be ready and expectant, not in fearful idleness but in active, vibrant preparation. As Jesus said,
“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
his waiting period is an invitation to show God’s heart to the world, to reach others with His truth and love, and to walk in a way that reflects His holiness.
Every day that Christ delays is an opportunity. Peter reminds us, “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). This isn’t a time to sit back or shy away; it’s a chance to share His love, to bring as many people as possible into the knowledge of Him. God’s heart is for humanity, and He desires that none should be lost. We are to live with that same heart, actively reaching out to others in love, showing them the hope we have in Christ.
As we await His return, we’re not waiting passively but are called to prepare ourselves as His bride. Scripture describes the Church as “a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:27). Like a bride readying herself for her wedding day, we prepare for our King’s return by living a life of purity and devotion. Our righteousness is not our own but is clothed in Christ, as Isaiah proclaims, “He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of His righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10). This preparation is about surrendering our lives to Him and letting His holiness shape us.
We’re also called to bring heaven to earth, living as ambassadors of His Kingdom. “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20). Our purpose in this season is not to hide away in fear but to be a light, actively sharing His love and living as agents of His grace and truth. Every act of kindness, every word of encouragement, every prayer is a reflection of God’s heart to the world, an invitation for others to experience His love.
In this waiting, we live out the words of Jesus: “The Kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). We are a part of His redemptive plan, showing the world what His Kingdom looks like here and now. This season isn’t just a pause but a purposeful, sacred time. As Paul encouraged Timothy, “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called” (1 Timothy 6:12). This is a call to stay strong, to live with eyes fixed on eternity but fully engaged in today’s mission.
Our lives are meant to reflect the expectancy we carry, embodying the hope that one day He will return and all things will be restored. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). This waiting isn’t in dread but in eager hope. As we live in expectation, may we be found ready, unashamed, and faithful, having shared His love with those around us.
Let’s live in a way that glorifies God, reaching others and preparing ourselves for that glorious day. “And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming” (1 John 2:28). When He returns, may He find a bride ready and waiting, clothed in His righteousness, and may we stand with the many lives touched by His love, eagerly awaiting the moment we finally see our King face to face.