Hope And Expectation

Hope and Expectation

Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God.” Mark 11:22

YOU’VE PROBABLY NOTICED a familiar dynamic in prayer. You put your praises, gratitude, requests, and petitions out there for the Lord to consider, but deep down, you feel as if answers are unlikely. You know God can answer, of course; you don’t doubt his ability. But will he? That’s a different question, and you have a sinking feeling he won’t. Too often you see your prayers as shots in the dark that may—but probably won’t—hit the target of God’s will. So you pray, but without much hope. Your words say one thing, your heart another.

This may be a form of prayer, but it isn’t a form of faith. Yes, you have faith in God as your source, and he’s really your only hope. But is there actual hope in your prayers? Biblical hope is not wishful thinking, after all. It doesn’t reflect how we might talk about our hopes for the weather or the big game this weekend. No, biblical hope is a rock-solid expectation, an anticipation of what we know is sure to come. And prayers that don’t reflect that kind of hope are not filled with faith.

Jesus urged his followers to have faith in God—not just in his ability but in his goodness, favor, willingness to intervene in the lives of his people, and kind disposition toward our desires, many of which he has placed there. Faith is the key ingredient of prayer, and hope and expectancy are key ingredients of faith. In fact, you can’t have a powerful prayer life without them. God will still be kind, responding often with his goodness. But a powerful prayer life is filled with the hope and expectancy of faith. That’s what makes it powerful.

This is God’s design. It’s why Jesus said things like, “According to your faith be it done to you” (Matthew 9:29, ESV). When we stir up the expectations of our hearts—not for specific answers so much as for God’s goodness and favor—things change. Answers come more freely. We see him intervene in lives, communities, and nations. And our hearts emerge victorious from the disappointment and hopelessness they once felt.

Praying without faith is like trying to cut with a blunt knife—much labor expended to little purpose.