Online Reporter
“And Elisha said to her, ‘Go, borrow vessels from all your neighbours — empty vessels; do not gather just a few.’” (2 Kings 4:2)
WE are moving forward with expectation this March.
Expectation is not simply believing something will happen; it is preparing space for what God is about to do.
Faith does not only pray — faith also prepares.
In 2 Kings 4, a widow faced a desperate situation.
Her husband had died and creditors were coming to take her sons. She sought help from the prophet Elisha.
Instead of giving her money or food, he instructed her to borrow empty jars from her neighbours — not just a few, but as many as she could find.
Imagine the faith it took to go door to door asking for empty jars.
She obeyed, gathered the jars, shut the door with her sons and began pouring the little oil she had into them.
As she poured, the oil kept flowing until every jar was filled. When the vessels ran out, the oil stopped.
The miracle did not end because God ran out of power — it ended where preparation ended.
Expectation gathers jars. This principle still applies today.
Many pray for breakthroughs but forget that faith requires participation.
God invites us to partner with Him.
In John 11:40, Jesus tells Martha: “If you would believe, you would see the glory of God.”
Yet before raising Lazarus, He instructed the people to “roll the stone away”.
The miracle was coming, but the stone had to be moved.
Faith believes, but expectation acts.
A well-known story illustrates this principle. A village suffering from drought gathered to pray for rain.
Everyone came to the field to pray, but only one small boy brought an umbrella. When asked why, he replied: “We are praying for rain, aren’t we?”
That boy had prepared for the answer he expected.
This is what expectation looks like — it prepares for what it believes God will do.
In everyday life, gathering jars and rolling stones often looks practical.
People pray for employment, believing God will open doors, yet preparation means updating curricula vitae, improving skills and applying for jobs.
Prayer opens heaven, but preparation opens doors on earth.
Someone may pray for months for a job but never apply anywhere — expecting oil but refusing to gather jars.
Expectation applies to financial breakthroughs, too.
Many pray for God to bless their income, yet preparation requires wise stewardship: keeping records, saving and reinvesting profits.
Small businesses — whether selling vegetables, running a tuck shop or raising chickens — grow when someone prepares for increase.
Sometimes gathering jars means joining a savings group (mukando), researching opportunities or planning ahead. God multiplies what we have, but we must steward it well.
Expectation also applies to health.
Faith believes God heals, but preparation means caring for the body He gave us: attending medical check-ups, following advice, resting and making healthy choices.
It applies to relationships as well.
Some pray for restoration in families, marriages or friendship.
However, often the stone to roll away is pride, bitterness or unforgiveness.
Expectation may mean starting that difficult conversation, offering forgiveness or choosing humility so healing can begin.
Faith prays but expectation prepares.
This is why March is not passive — it is participatory.
This is the month we roll stones and gather jars, update curricula vitae, make phone calls, learn new skills, repair relationships and take practical steps towards the breakthroughs we expect. Miracles often happen where faith and preparation meet.
Prayer: “Lord, show me where I need to prepare for what I have been praying for. Help me gather the jars and roll away the stones that stand in the way of what You want to do in my life. Give me wisdom, courage and faith as I move with expectation this month. Amen.”
