Expectations

We all know what it feels like to wait for something or to look forward to something with anticipation. But as believers, our expectations hold a different kind of power. When we expect God to move, it’s not just wishful thinking—it’s faith in action.

Psalm 5:3 says, “Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning, I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.” This verse encourages us to bring our prayers and desires before God with the trust that He hears us and will respond in His timing. Today, we’ll explore how we can live with expectation in our faith, relationships, and everyday lives, knowing that God has good things in store for us.

We all have expectations no matter how hard we try not to have them but there are areas where we should carry expectation. One way we carry expectations is in prayer.

When we pray, we’re communicating directly with the Creator of the universe. That’s powerful! God invites us to come before Him with our needs, desires, and hopes, and He promises to listen. In Jeremiah 33:3, God says, “Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.” This verse encourages us to pray with an open heart, trusting that God hears us and has good things ahead.

However contrary to what we think expectation in prayer doesn’t mean expecting God to answer exactly as we want but rather trusting Him to answer in the way that’s best for us. When we bring our requests to Him, we can wait confidently, knowing He is faithful. We can expect God to answer but we should never have an answer that we have our hearts set on and expect that God is going to give us that exact thing. He might but we should be prepared incase He doesn’t. The way we prepare is by remembering that God has a plan, and it exceeds anything we could come up with.

So, when you pray, pray with an expectant heart. Bring one specific request to God, and instead of worrying or doubting, choose to leave it in His hands with confidence. He might answer in a surprising way, so keep your heart open to how He may respond.

We can always expect God to lead us through anything.

We can live with this expectation by trusting God’s goodness, even in difficult seasons. Life is filled with ups and downs, and sometimes it’s easy to lose hope when things aren’t going our way. But Romans 8:28 reminds us, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” This encourages us to expect that God will bring something good out of every situation, even when we can’t see it.

My husband and I had season of life that was rough and uncertain and in the beginning of that season I was expecting God to give us what we needed and quickly…. 6 months later and tough, tough, tough weeks God answered. It was in the waiting that my expectation changed from right now to when God… when God answers is perfect, and it will be exactly what is needed. That is exactly what happened. It was in that season that my trust in God grew 10-fold.

Living with expectation in tough times requires faith that God sees the bigger picture. It’s about trusting His timing and knowing that He can turn any circumstance into something beautiful.

Is there a challenge in your life where you need to remind yourself of God’s goodness? Take a moment to thank Him for the ways He’s worked in your past and trust that He’s still at work, even now.

We have talked about expectations in prayer and in trusting God. Another area where expectation is key is when we face unknowns in life. Whether it’s a new season, a decision we have to make, or a step into something unfamiliar, God promises to guide us when we seek Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” This verse reminds us that we can expect God’s guidance when we place our trust in Him.

Living with expectation means looking forward to how God will direct our steps. Instead of feeling anxious about the future, we can have peace knowing that He’s already prepared the way for us.

We have all walked in things we were uncertain of. These uncertain times bring all kinds of emotions but in the end for the most part they have all worked out. That is because God has a plan.

Expecting God to move in our lives isn’t about demanding what we want but about trusting that He knows what’s best for us. When we place our expectations in Him, we find peace, hope, and purpose. Let’s make it a goal today to live expectantly, opening our hearts to the wonderful ways God is working, even in the things we can’t yet see.

Is there a decision or future plan that’s been weighing on your heart? Take it to God, asking Him to make His path clear. Then, practice waiting with expectation, believing that He’ll provide the guidance you need at just the right time.

Living with expectation means trusting that God is good, faithful, and present in every season. Psalm 27:13-14 says, “Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” This verse beautifully captures what it means to expect God’s goodness, even as we wait.

Let’s carry this message of expectation with us, knowing that God is always faithful, always working, and always good. I’ll be back tomorrow with more encouragement. Until then, keep expecting God’s best in every area of your life.