EMPOWERING LIVES WITH PURPOSE:
What is hope?
Most people understand hope as wishful thinking, as in “I hope something will happen.” This is not what the Bible means by hope. The biblical definition of hope is “confident expectation.”
Hope is a firm assurance regarding things that are unclear or unknown to us.
“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”
(Romans 8:24-25)
Scripture is the best way to receive truth. Truth about a word such as “hope” is assuring. There are so many scripture verses that contain hope in them.
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
(Hebrews 11:1)
As believers, hope is a fundamental part of our life. (Proverbs 23:18). Without hope, life loses its meaning.
It’s very sad to think about the unbeliever because
in death, there is no hope; you can read about this in (Isaiah 38:18; Job 17:15).
Hope gives those of us who place our confidence in Jesus and who trust Him the ability to place our hope in God to be helped.
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.” (Psalm 28:7)
The Bible says we will not be confounded, put to shame, or disappointed. (Isaiah 49:23)
When we as believers have a confidence in God’s protection and help, we are free from fear and anxiety; we can thank God for this assurance. (Psalm 46:2-3)
Our hope as believers is in Christ and His promises that the Holy Spirit is always with us.
“For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.”
(Galatians 5:5)
The certainty of us having a blessed future is guaranteed through the indwelling of the Spirit, Christ in us.
Along with faith and love, hope is an enduring virtue of our Christian life (1 Corinthians 13:13), and love springs from hope.
“For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.” (Colossians 1:4-5)
Hope produces joy and peace in believers through the power of the Spirit. (Romans 12:12; 15:13)
We all look for the “hope” in the return of Jesus and our eternal home with Him in heaven. What a comfort we all have in this promise we can hold on to – HOPE.