Believe with Expectation

                 by Richard A. Cox Jr , Author of I, We, Us:  A Journey of Personal Growth and Development

                               “Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief ” Mark 9:24 (KJV)

The New Testament is filled with examples of those who solidly believed that Jesus Christ was the prophesied Messiah. One example was the woman with an issue of blood in Mark 5:26-34. She had been in search of healing for twelve long years. Spending all her money, her condition grew worse.

One day, with an attitude of faith and expectation, she hears about Jesus passing her way. The woman’s goal was to just touch the hem of Jesus garment. Her belief, in only a simple touch, made her whole. Some in Biblical times believed in Jesus based upon His profound teachings. Others believed in Jesus based upon the shocking miracles He performed right before their eyes.

Even today, there are Christians that go to church each Sunday and confess belief in the Living God - up to a point. God does not want partial belief but total belief in Him as Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. Our ability to believe is the fundamental cornerstone of our Christian faith. Our belief in Jesus Christ motivates us to live a Christian lifestyle, holy and pleasing to Him. Romans 10:10 (KJV) says, “with the heart man believeth unto righteousness.”  This means our heart’s belief is a heart response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Belief means trust, to accept as true, to expect, to place confidence in, or to have a firm persuasion. Jesus tells us in John 14:1 (KJV) “let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in me.” He wants us to believe His character, ability, and purpose, as a person worthy of our entire confidence. Jesus desires that we believe His promises are wholly trustworthy. Our belief is tied to our attitude of expectation. Look forward to the promises Jesus has given us as believers. Psalm 62:5(KJV) says, “my soul, wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from him.”   We must firmly believe and expect with confidence that God will fulfill every promise He’s made to us.

 Until fulfillment is manifested in our lives, we should show expectation by speaking what the Word of God says, with thanksgiving in our hearts. Colossians 2:7 (KJV) says, “rooted and being built up in him, and being established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”  By thanking God, we demonstrate that we humbly expect an answer from Him. Keep thanking God until belief in God’s promises becomes reality.

Saints, it takes endurance to trust God to bring forth your answer. Don’t stop believing that God will save your spouse, that God will save your children, that God will give you a job promotion, etc. Hebrews 10:36 (KJV) declares, “you have need of endurance, that, doing the will of God, you should receive the promise.”  Hold on! Don’t let go of your belief in the promises God has made to you. Develop an attitude of gratitude. Hebrew 13:15 (KJV) says, “through Him, then, let us offer the sacrifices of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips confessing to His name.” The fruit of our lips says what the Bible says, there should be agreement with the Word of God - this is the sacrifice of praise we are exhorted to continually give God.

Our belief, with an attitude of expectation, will be seen through our speech, actions, talk and walk. God desires us to “hold fast” to His promises, not just keep up appearances for others. He wants us to be steadfast in our confession without wavering. God promised it and when God promises something, it is guaranteed.

If you are expecting the worst to happen, sooner or later you are going to confess it. Whatever you expect will come out in your confession. But if you expect the best to happen, sooner or later, it is going to come out in your conversation. We must rely on God’s Word to be sufficient.

Colossians 2:6 (KJV) says, “as you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.”  Let the confession from our lips agree with the Word of God. Our expectation is connected to our belief in the Living God and His Word; not in the uncertainty of riches, not in our circumstances, nor in our tremendous ability to earn a living.

As we wait for God to manifest blessings in our lives, believe with an attitude of expectation. God will fulfill His promises in your life; just expect it to come to pass.