Miracle Mindset - Chapter 16: Living a Life of Expectation – Positioning Yourself for Miracles
- Dr. Layne McDonald
- Apr 30
- 6 min read
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” —Hebrews 11:1
The Silent Killer of Expectation
Janet sat quietly at the back of the church. She had believed once — really believed. Prayed bold prayers. Trusted God for miracles. But after years of infertility, a painful divorce, and watching doors close one after another, her faith felt... dull.
She still went to church, still nodded at all the right sermons, but deep inside, she had stopped expecting. Not out of rebellion — but out of self-protection. It was easier to expect nothing than to be disappointed again.
What Janet didn’t realize is that this isn’t just her story — it’s the story of many believers.
They don’t stop loving God.
They don’t stop believing He exists.
They just quietly stop expecting Him to do anything extraordinary.
“Expectation is the atmosphere where miracles are born.”
God Moves Where He Is Expected
Jesus never scolded people for asking too much — but often for expecting too little.
When Peter stepped out of the boat to walk on water, Jesus didn't say, “Peter, you're aiming too high.”He said, “Why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31)
When the blind men cried out for healing, Jesus didn’t respond with, “That’s unrealistic.”He said, “According to your faith let it be done to you.” (Matthew 9:29)
God is drawn to expectancy.
Where there is expectation, the miraculous becomes possible.
In contrast, Mark 6:5 records one of the saddest verses:
“He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.”
Why?Because they had no faith.No expectation.No hunger.
Expectation is not just nice — it is necessary.
The Heartbreaking Truth About Many Believers
Many Christians lower their expectations not because they don’t believe God can move, but because they are terrified of being disappointed again.
But here’s the truth:
“It is better to expect big and risk disappointment than to expect nothing and live without the miraculous.”
Faith is risky. It calls us out of comfort. It requires us to believe for things we can’t control.
But isn’t that the point?
Miracles Always Follow Expectation
Throughout Scripture, miracles often followed a heart posture of expectation:
The woman with the issue of blood expected healing if she touched Jesus' robe (Mark 5:25–34).
The Roman centurion expected Jesus to heal with just a word (Matthew 8:5–13).
Blind Bartimaeus refused to be silent because he expected Jesus to heal him (Mark 10:46–52).
Notice the pattern?
Expectant people move differently.
They push through crowds.
They endure ridicule.
They pray when others have stopped praying.
They look for the hand of God where others only see obstacles.
Why So Many Live Without Expectation
1. Fear of Disappointment
After unanswered prayers or painful seasons, we quietly convince ourselves:"If I don’t expect much, I won’t hurt much."
But Hebrews 11:6 says:
“Without faith it is impossible to please God.”
Faith — which includes expectation — is the very thing that pleases Him.
Even if you’ve been disappointed before, keep expecting. Because delay is not the same as denial.
2. Defining God By Past Pain
Joseph could have stopped expecting after years of betrayal, slavery, and false accusation. But he didn’t.
Genesis 50:20 reveals his heart:
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.”
The past may have left wounds, but it is not the author of your future.
“God’s goodness is not held hostage by your past pain.”
3. Focusing on Circumstances Instead of Christ
Peter was literally walking on water until he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the storm (Matthew 14:30).
Circumstances will always try to convince you that it’s too late, too hard, or too broken.
But faith doesn’t come from perfect circumstances. It comes from looking at the One who holds the storm in His hands.
Developing a Lifestyle of Expectation
So how do we not just have moments of faith — but live a life marked by expectation?
1. Speak the Language of Expectation
Proverbs 18:21 reminds us:
“The tongue has the power of life and death.”
Words shape worlds.
Do you speak like someone who expects God to move, or like someone bracing for disappointment?
Instead of:
✖ “I doubt this will change.”
✖ “It always goes wrong.”
✖ “I’ll probably never get out of this.”
Speak:
✔ “God is working, even if I can’t see it.”
✔ “Something good is coming.”
✔ “I live under the favor of God.”
“Your words don’t just describe your faith — they direct it.”
2. Pray Bold Prayers
Bold prayers are not arrogant — they are evidence of confidence in a big God.
Jesus said:
“Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” —Mark 11:24
Pray expecting to hear.
Pray expecting God to move.
Pray like a child who knows their Father listens.
“Small prayers reveal small expectations.”
3. Worship Like It’s Already Done
Paul and Silas didn’t wait for the chains to fall before worshiping (Acts 16:25–26).They worshiped while still bound.
Expectation often looks like worship.
It’s saying, “God, I trust you enough to praise you before I see it.”
“Gratitude is the soil where miracles grow.”
4. Walk with Expectant People
Faith is contagious.
Surround yourself with people who:
✔ Pray for miracles.
✔ Speak life.
✔ Expect God to move.
Be cautious of cynics, even well-meaning ones.
“Walk with the wise and become wise.” —Proverbs 13:20
If you want to live a life of expectation, you need voices that fuel your faith, not drain it.
5. Look for God in the Small Things
Many people only look for God in dramatic interventions.
But:
That unexpected phone call of encouragement?
The perfectly timed opportunity?
The peace in the middle of the storm?
These are miracles too.
“Do not despise these small beginnings.” —Zechariah 4:10
The more you recognize God in the daily, the easier it becomes to expect Him in the extraordinary.
Modern-Day Testimony
Jeremy had prayed for years for financial breakthrough. Stuck under crushing debt, he almost stopped expecting.
One day, while filling his gas tank, he met a stranger who noticed his business logo on his car. That conversation led to a job offer, which led to him eventually paying off every debt within three years.
He says, “I thought I needed a lottery miracle, but God gave me an opportunity instead.”
“God’s answers often come disguised as small doors.”
Even When Nothing Seems to Be Happening
What do you do when you’re expecting… but nothing seems to shift?
Keep speaking faith.
Keep worshiping.
Keep praying boldly.
Refuse to lower your expectations to match your disappointment.
Jesus told His disciples a story of a persistent widow (Luke 18:1–8) who kept coming to an unjust judge until she received justice.
Jesus wasn’t suggesting God is like the unjust judge. He was saying:“If even a corrupt judge responds to persistence — how much more will your Heavenly Father?”
The Research of Expectation
Psychologists call it “the expectancy effect” — the phenomenon where what we expect often shapes what we experience.
In one study (Harvard, 2001), people who expected positive outcomes were:
More likely to notice opportunities.
More resilient through setbacks.
More motivated to persevere.
The Bible simply calls this faith.
Living Under an Open Heaven
Expectation is more than optimism. It is believing:
God is for me.
God is able.
God is working, even when I can’t see it.
It’s living with eyes open, ears tuned, and heart ready.
“The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” —2 Chronicles 16:9
Don’t Settle for Less
Some believers live their whole lives expecting only what they can explain, control, or predict — never tapping into the joy of living with divine expectation.
But you were not called to that kind of life.
You were made to expect miracles.
You were made to expect God to intervene.
You were made to expect open doors, favor, provision, and supernatural peace.
What you expect often determines what you experience.
So today — don’t just hope. Don’t just wish.Expect. Because you have a miracle-working God.
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(Audio option, read by one of the authors, Dr. Layne McDonald.)
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