We tend to feel the way we expect to feel. We see what we expect to see. We hear what we expect to hear. We act the way we expect to act. We set ourselves up for failure or success—for fulfillment or frustration—depending on our level of faith.

Living by faith means expecting the best.

Matthew 9:29 says, “According to your faith let it be done to you” (NIV).

Faith is positive expectation. You expect God to answer. You expect the solution to come through. You expect things to work out. You expect to succeed. You expect it all to fall into place. Expectations are faith.

As Christians, we don’t believe that everything in life will turn out well, no matter how much faith we have. That’s just not a reality in a world full of sin. But we can be confident that God is working for our good. We can trust him with our future because he knows better than we do what is best for us—and he will help us become more like him.

Living by faith does not mean you wear rose-colored glasses. It means you trust that God is always working, so you can expect things to work out just as he intends them to. That can give you great confidence. That truth can build your faith.

To become a godly optimist, expect God to work in your life and in the world. Expect him to keep his promises. Expect that he wants to accomplish his will through you. And expect him to provide everything you need to do that.