What Are We Waiting For?

When my family and I moved to Fairbanks, Alaska from Alabama, we knew that we would likely see wildlife. We were eager to see parts of God’s creation that we had never seen before. Though we anticipated seeing moose and bears and foxes, we were caught by surprise when a large mama moose walked right by our window with her calf, in the exact spot my boys had played outside the days before. After the initial awe wore off from getting to see such a beautiful creature, I thanked God that my boys had not been out there. 

Living so close to the wilderness, we train our kids to keep watch. My kids have been taught to pay attention to their surroundings and what to do if a moose comes up. For weeks they had played with no surprises. The moose walking right through their play area was the perfect time for me to reiterate why it is so important to pay attention every time they are outside. Maybe they play out there a hundred times, and nothing ever walks by, but they must never become dull to the fact that something can.

It is now our second year in Alaska. One day, I looked at the blinds on our windows and wondered if I had missed any moose walking by because I didn’t have the blinds open. Even though they aren’t around a lot (we’d only seen them twice in our first year), I wondered if I’d missed my chance to see them. A few days later, I opened one of the blinds and was surprised to see a mama moose and her calf. The next day they were in our yard when I opened the blinds again. This morning, I had the blinds open before the sun fully rose, looking and hoping for one more glimpse of them. 

The Lord reminded me that I am to be similarly eager as I watch for His return. That’s the call we have as believers. Jesus came, died and rose again for our sins. He fulfilled prophecy after prophecy with His first coming, but there are even more prophecies about His second coming, the one we still await. These moose I love to watch eat our leaves or sit in the snow are merely a part of His great creation. But Jesus, our Savior, is coming back one day, and He has told us in His word to be ready. He says, “Therefore, keep watch because you do not know the day or hour” (Matt. 25:13). The ten virgins in Matthew 25 were all planning to meet the groom, but when he was delayed, they weren’t prepared and were left outside the wedding banquet once he came. May our senses never become dulled as we wait for our great King and Lord!

Just as my boys must watch every time they are outside for incoming wildlife, we must watch for His return. We look for the signs. We stay alert to what is happening around us all while drawing nearer to His heart through prayer and time in His word. We live our life by the Spirit, obeying His commands and waiting expectantly for His return until He comes!

“‘And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may also be with me where I am.’” John 14:3 (NIV)

About the Author

​Hi! I'm Saretta Wells, married to Adam and mommie to three amazing boys. I am passionate about receiving ALL that the Lord has for my life, and I love diving into His word. I am so thankful He is near and still speaks to us today! We are Alabama transplants to Alaska, where the Lord has blessed us with a place to serve all while enjoying the wildness Alaska has to offer. I spend my days homeschooling, adventuring with my family and growing with Him, constantly in awe of what He has done in our lives.