When I was younger before I knew Christ I was always foreboding about things. Thinking and fearing something bad would happen. Even if something good was happening it was spoiled and overshadowed by this fear. It is a horrible way to live. My expectation was in the pits. What changed in my life later on was when I came to know Christ. The Bible tells us that God is a God of hope. Romans 15:13 (NKJV)-13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. They say hope is a confident expectation of good things to come. We must understand true hope and not wishful thinking can only come from God. He is the source of our hope. We hear doctors say sometimes “Don’t get your hope up?” If our hope rests totally in the medical profession, or worldly wisdom that can spell a dismal outcome. It can leave you feeling empty and hopeless.
Proverbs tell us in: Proverbs 13:12 (NKJV)-12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. Another translation says: Proverbs 13:12 (MSG)-12 Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around. We have all faced disappointment, and failed expectations in life. Things didn’t turn out as we thought. Does that warrant us stopping to expect good things in life? I don’t think it should. The show of courage is the ability to keep pressing forward in those times. To not let discouragement and despair hold us back. We are talking about the importance of faith, hope, and love ( 1 Cor 13:13). Things can look hopeless, especially regarding financial struggles, sickness, and relational or marital problems. Even the present condition of our country and the world at large can seem hopeless. Have you lost hope? Is your expectation meter heading towards zero?
The foundation of our hope is in God and His promises. Look at Psalm 62:5 (AMP)-5 My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him. The Hebrew Word for expectation is tiqwâ-(Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.) It means cord, an attachment. The thing that I long for. If you’re thrown overboard and drowning what do they do? They throw you a lifeline. Hope is a cord that connects us by faith to God. Hope is a lifeline for us. It connects us to His promises. This is a wonderful truth. God the Father has an affection and attachment to His children. A child within the womb of their mother has an umbilical cord that brings life and nourishment to the baby. God brings life and nourishment to our faith. He does this by reinforcing His love for us and giving us His promises. God demonstrated His love by sending Christ for us. He demonstrates His love for us by His faithfulness toward us. We should never let our hopes and expectations fall off or diminish.
It tells us in Hebrews 11:1: Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)-1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hope gives our faith something to attach to. It can be a promise from God’s word, or when God speaks to us in that still small voice. I like the Amplified Bible: Hebrews 11:1 (AMP)-1 NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. Hope can be a positive imagination. Our heart is a womb of expectation. A place where possibilities are conceived. An expectant mother knows she is pregnant and plans for her delivery day and prepares for that newborn. Hope and expectation are powerful. I love Abraham’s testimony: Romans 4:18 (NKJV)-18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” It was God’s promise to him that he held steadfast in his faith regardless of outward circumstances. Hope and expectation plan in faith for good things to come. Mark 9:23 (NKJV)-23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
The Word of God expects us to expect a miracle. The woman with an issue of blood for twelve years and the doctors had given her no hope. She was in financial ruin. She was getting worse and not better. Yet when she heard of Jesus the healer her hope and expectation came alive and it led her to press through the crowd and touch the hem of Jesus’s garment. She was gloriously healed. How powerful is that? Where are you looking for hope? Where or who is your expectation? Who are you connected to? Is it the God of hope? 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NKJV)-13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Hope and expectation grow in the environment and the reality of God’s great love for us! Romans 5:5(PassionNTPsa)-. And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who lives in us! Focusing on God’s love and that means knowing and believing in God’s love is a game changer when it comes to expectation. It is a cord that God will never break. 1 John 4:16 (NKJV)-16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
In closing; The Greek word for expectation is prosdokaō which means to watch, anticipate, to wait for. (Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary). We see this in Luke 3:15-16 (NKJV)-15 Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not,16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. The thought of a Messiah to come filled their hearts with anticipation. It filled their hearts with hope. There was an expectation of something wonderful and liberating when at that time things seemed hopeless for the Jewish people. John assured them that Christ was coming and was here. He was indeed their Messiah. We see this as well in Acts 3:4-5 (NKJV)-4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.”5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. This was the lame man at the Beautiful gate. Expectation is a beautiful thing. It is so attached to our faith in God. How can we truly receive without hope and expectation that comes from Father God? Let us fix our eyes on the God who will never let us down. I’ll end with this verse: Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV)-11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (expected end). Never give up your expectation of the goodness of God to come through for you! He still is the God of hope!
Hold on to this promise: Ephesians 3:20 (AMP)-20 Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]—
In Christ’s Love;
Brent and Linda Bushen
If this has blessed you in some way, please let us know and share it with a friend.