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. (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV)

Have you ever heard the saying, “Don’t expect too much that way you are never let down?” Or maybe you have heard this one, “Keep low expectations so you are never disappointed?” These sayings used to be part of my life motto. Yet, where is the hope in this way of living? Have we as a society been let down so much that we are always expecting “just a little better than the worst case scenario?” We always prepare for the worst. While I recognize preparation is necessary in everything, we become so focused on the possible negative outcome that we stop believing and hoping for the possible positive outcome.

A man begins to die when he ceases to expect anything for tomorrow. – Abraham Miller

What you expect and speak out is what you attract. For example, do you know someone who constantly says “Knowing my luck, I’ll get in a car accident,” or “I will always be poor and struggle,” or “This illness will be the end of me.” Do they exude positivity or hope? Most of the time people like this immediately damper the atmosphere and their negativity brings out a negative environment. Furthermore, maybe they actually did get into that car accident they kept talking about. Or they are and have always been under struggle with finances. Why can’t people hope again for good things? Why can’t people say, “I know something good is about to happen,” “My future is bright,” “I know the end of my struggle is near!” It feels like many people have given up hope and then settle where they are at, expecting the worst or nothing at all. Life can become much more exciting and fulfilling when you wake up hoping that today is the day your situation will turn around. Have hope that today is the day things get better, you get the job offer, you get healed, or meet the love of your life. Even if it doesn’t happen that day, it will happen if you continue to hope and expect.

Don’t lose hope, you never know what tomorrow will bring. – unknown

It seems so much of the world is hopeless. Bad things have happened to so many people that they have started to give up and expect more of the negative. Trust me from personal experience when I say, THIS IS NO WAY TO LIVE! Start believing again and hope for good things to come. Just because something hasn’t come to fruition yet does not mean it is never going to happen. It is when you give up and settle in despair and hopelessness, that stops things from happening.

Don’t give up, keep going. There is always a chance that you will stumble into something terrific. I have never heard of anyone stumbling over anything while sitting down. – Ann Landers

Do you ever have those mornings where you wake up and your first thoughts are, “Oh man, I soooo do not want to deal with today?” You dread whatever the day may hold for you? We need to start waking up feeling excited for the day! Even if the current situation is negative, today could be the day things begin to turn around and get better!

Furthermore, when you believe in an Almighty God, your hope can profusely abound. After all, God can do the impossible! God can change your situation around in a second! God can take the negative and turn it into a positive!

On that account, when you accept Jesus as your Savior, something changes inside of you. The knowledge that Jesus came and died for us to give us a good life full of health, joy, peace and prosperity, should strengthen your hope. Even if things seem contrary to this, keep hoping and expect your situation to change for the better. God promised blessings to us and God cannot lie. So God will change your situation if you believe. Don’t give up!

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. (Romans 15:13 NKJV)