Joel Osteen Podcast – “Expect Good Things”

Host: Joel Osteen
Episode Date: September 26, 2025

Episode Overview

In this inspiring episode, Joel Osteen explores the power of expectation and the impact it has on our lives, faith, and daily experiences. He urges listeners to move beyond negative thinking and low expectations, encouraging them to anticipate God’s favor, blessings, and breakthroughs—no matter their circumstances. Through biblical examples, personal stories, and practical declarations, Joel emphasizes that living with expectancy positions us for God’s best and helps us rise above mediocrity and disappointment.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Impact of Your Expectations

• Expectancy Sets Your Life’s Limits

  • “Our expectations set the limits for our life and too many people are not expecting the right things.” (03:05)
  • Joel points out that many people restrict themselves by expecting the worst or nothing at all, which stifles faith and possibility.

• Faith at Work

  • “Your expectation is your faith at work. When you expect to get good breaks, you are releasing your faith and that's what allows God to bring it to pass.” (04:20)
  • Positive expectations activate faith and attract blessings.

2. Changing Negative Patterns of Expectation

• Personal & Relatable Examples

  • Joel shares stories about a student anticipating failure and a woman whose negative outlook seemed to draw in more negativity. Both transformed their lives by shifting their expectations. (05:50, 08:20)
  • Quote: “She started expecting God’s favor. She started expecting people to be good to her...today, it’s a totally different story.” (08:30)

• Breaking the Cycle

  • Joel encourages resisting the urge to expect disappointment as a way to avoid it. Instead, adopt faith-based anticipation—even if outcomes aren’t immediate. (11:00)

3. The Power of Positive Declarations

• Setting the Tone Daily

  • “Every morning when we first get out of bed, we should say, ‘Something good is going to happen to me today.’ We have to set the tone for the day right at the very beginning.” (03:45)
  • Repeating affirmations and hopeful declarations builds an atmosphere for blessings.

• Not About Perfection or Avoidance of Problems

  • “Does something good happen to you every single day? Not at all. Some days, everything in the world that can go wrong does. You know what I do? I get up the next morning and say, ‘Something good is going to happen to me today.’” (22:40)

4. Biblical Basis for Expecting Good Things

• Matthew 9:29 – “Have what your faith expects.” (07:10)
• Psalm 112 – No Need to Fear Bad News
  • “I made a decision that day: I wasn’t going to live in fear. I wasn’t going to expect the worst anymore. I turned it over to God and started expecting for him to turn it around.” (14:40)
• Psalm 23 & 31
  • “Goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives.” (17:00)
  • “God has blessings stored up for those that honor Him.” (27:20)
• Deuteronomy – Blessings Will Overtake
  • “His blessings will chase us down and overtake us.” (13:50)
• Isaiah 54:2 – Enlarge Your Expectations
  • “Enlarge the place of your tents...get ready for more. Make room for increase.” (26:05)

5. Practical Applications and Encouragement

• Raise Your Level of Expectancy

  • Joel gives practical advice for singles seeking relationships, professionals hoping for a breakthrough, and anyone battling negativity.
  • “Start expecting to be at the right place at the right time. Start expecting God to bring you divine connections.” (12:55)

• Look for God’s Favor Everywhere

  • “Favor at work, favor at home, favor at the grocery store, favor on the freeway—God’s longing to be good to you. But you've got to get in position. What’s the position? Expectancy.” (24:22)

• Faith Multiplied by Expectation

  • Referencing the story of the woman healed by Jesus (Mark 5), Joel illustrates that expectancy can draw God’s power into our situations. (24:50)
  • Quote: “Somebody touched me with such faith, with such expectancy, that they drew the supernatural power right out of me.” (25:25)

• For Those Weary from Disappointment

  • “Shake off those lies. God is saying, today: ‘This is a new day, and I have great things in store for you.’” (16:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Artificially Limiting Expectations:

  • “If you’re not expecting something good, you’re not releasing your faith...don’t go through life trying to protect yourself from a disappointment by not expecting anything good.” (10:45)

• On Cultivating Hope:

  • “Hope deferred makes the heart sick. One definition of hope is: happy anticipation of something good.” (20:35)

• On Overcoming Negativity:

  • “Let go of everything that didn’t work out, let go of every disappointment, let go of every person that hurt you, and start expecting goodness and mercy to follow you everywhere you go.” (18:04)

• On God’s Lifelong Favor:

  • “There’s a scripture in Psalms that says, God’s favor is not for a season, it’s for a lifetime.” (13:30)

• On Personal Discipline:

  • “I've done it so long, it's ingrained in my thinking, even in my subconscious mind, all through the day, I'm expecting God's favor, expecting blessings.” (21:58)

• A Final Declaration:

  • “Keep believing, keep expecting. Don’t fear bad news. Don’t expect the worst. We’re going to have exactly what we expect. Let’s get up every morning and just declare it by faith: ‘Something good is going to happen to me today.’” (28:05)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:05] — “Our expectations set the limits...”
• [03:45] — The power of morning declarations
• [05:50] — Transforming negative patterns with faith
• [08:30] — Testimony: Changing expectations changes outcomes
• [10:45] — On why “neutral” expectations aren't enough
• [13:30] — Psalms: Favor for a lifetime
• [14:40] — Personal story of overcoming fear of bad news
• [17:00] — “Goodness and mercy will follow us...”
• [20:35] — “Hope deferred makes the heart sick...”
• [21:58] — Joel's personal practice of expectancy
• [22:40] — Dealing with imperfect days with expectancy
• [24:22] — Favor in all areas of life
• [25:25] — Mark 5: Expectancy draws God’s power
• [26:05] — Isaiah 54:2 — Enlarge your expectations
• [27:20] — Psalm 31:19 — Walking into blessings

Conclusion & Takeaways

Joel Osteen concludes the episode by encouraging listeners to consistently raise their level of expectation, look ahead with hope, and partner their faith with positive anticipation. He stresses that God is eager to outdo our dreams if we maintain an attitude of expectancy and obedience. With practical declarations and scriptural backing, Joel’s message is clear: expect good things, and watch God move mightily in your life.

Action Steps for Listeners

• Begin each day affirming, “Something good is going to happen to me today.”
• Replace negative expectations with faith-filled anticipation in every area of life.
• Remember God’s promises and believe for ongoing favor, not just seasonal blessings.
• Release the hurts and disappointments from the past, embracing a hopeful future.
• Cultivate expectancy as a lifestyle—especially when tempted to revert to fear or mediocrity.

This episode embodies Joel Osteen’s signature tone: uplifting, faith-filled, and practical. The call to “Expect Good Things” is both a theological encouragement and a daily habit that listeners are challenged to embrace.