Before we can begin a search for hope we need to grasp its meaning. The word hope, defined by the New Oxford American Dictionary, is “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” Consider that this expectation focuses beyond me and my resources to someone or something outside my sphere. I am dependent on another. I also need favorable circumstances to align to make the expectation happen.
We hope for so many things, and the list changes as we age. I once hoped to remember my words for the vocabulary test in English class. Now I’ve picked up speed as I accelerate beyond sixty-seven, and I hope my BP and cholesterol numbers stay reasonable. But hope drills deeper. We seek hope for a meaningful future. We look at the world and the events around us, and we hope Someone has a plan and purpose in the happenings. Dear friends, God is our hope. The phrase sounds simple yet the meaning becomes profound as we investigate further.
The Source and Object of Real Hope
Four heavy hitters of the Christian faith—David, Jeremiah, Paul and Peter—point to the only reliable Source of hope. Placing hope in anyone or anything else usually leads to disappointment.
David writes…
“And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You. Psalms 39:7 NASB
My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him. Psalms 62:5 NASB
For You are my hope; O Lord GOD, You are my confidence from my youth. Psalms 71:5 NASB
Jeremiah adds…
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” Lamentations 3:24 NASB
Paul reminds us…
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope, 1 Timothy 1:1 NASB
Peter also points to the sole source of hope…
who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 1 Peter 1:21 NASB
God’s Generous Nature
God is the Source of hope, and God by His nature is a Giver. His interactions toward us are marked by generosity. He gracefully showers blessings on folks who do not deserve them. God stands ready to dump a full load of hope on us, if we’re willing to accept it.
‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 NASB
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NASB
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NASB
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Peter 1:3 NASB
God’s Trustworthiness
How can we know that placing our hope in God is the smart choice? Consider His Word expressed in promises and prophecies along with His works.
His Promises
What about God’s promises? Do you have a favorite or perhaps two? If not, now would be a great time to find one that resonates with your heart and memorize it to tuck it away where no one can remove it. When hope seems to dissolve, remind yourself. Rehearse that promise aloud.
Remember the word to Your servant, In which You have made me hope. Psalms 119:49 NASB
If you need a refresher on some of God’s promises, here’s my gift to you. A Basketful of Promises is my own compilation of many of God’s promises, all backed by the guarantee of His Name. You can get the document at this link:
His Prophecies
J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy lists 1,239 prophecies in the Old Testament and 578 prophecies in the New Testament, for a total of 1,817. Conservative scholars estimate that Jesus—His birth, His life, His death, and His resurrection—fulfilled some 300 of these. John F. Walvoord reports that “500 of these prophecies have already been literally fulfilled.[1]” Walvoord adds, “The evidence is overwhelming that God means exactly what He says…”
His Works
God does not give up on us. My wise wife reminds me (often) that my beating heart is proof that God is not finished with me. He has more for me to tackle.
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NASB
What works of God should give rise to hope?
1. He hears and answers when we call. We lose precious moments listening to canned music mixed with some company’s promise that “Your call is important to us. Please, stay on the line.” God does not have a busy signal or a call queue. He’s ready 24×7 to listen to us. Why, oh why do we not avail ourselves more of this exceptional benefit?
For I hope in You, O LORD; You will answer, O Lord my God. Psalms 38:15 NASB
2. God has called us for a purpose, His purpose. We are not here by accident. Feelings of uselessness can overwhelm anyone. Talk to God about it. Refer to the previous point, and ask His direction.
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, Ephesians 1:18 NASB
3. God promises a future kingdom. No tears or suffering. The absence of evil. Light instead of darkness. Health instead of weakness.
“And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers; the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. And for this hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews. Acts 26:6-7 NASB
4. Salvation is a done deal. We can live knowing that the Gospel bubbles with hope, and God will fulfill what He has promised. Assurance. Certainty. He has forgiven our sins because of Jesus and His work on the cross. And now, the Holy Spirit, God Himself, indwells us.
if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. Colossians 1:23 NASB
Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:25-27 NASB
5. Jesus will return just as He promised.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, Titus 2:11-13 NASB
6. Christ’s return will be my moment of transformation to become like He is.
For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. Galatians 5:5 NASB
Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13 NASB
7. Eternal life is mine.
in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, Titus 1:2 NASB
so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:7 NASB
What makes our hope fade?
We can let our guard down and allow “the blahs” to overwhelm the truth of God’s Word. What about those times when we choose to see Him as too little to surmount our obstacles? We often chase after empty sources of hope instead of walking closely with Him. Consider some areas that can bury hope in a mushroom cloud of gloom. Be alert for their attack.
Extreme loss – We may lose a job, our health or a loved one.
Failure – No matter our best effort we feel that we are falling short.
Unexpected problems – Wave after wave of adversity, and the problems pile on and pile up.
The march of evil in the world – How can God turn a blind eye to what’s going on around us? (He sees it all! And He’s working a plan, His plan. Trust Him.)
Loved ones who shun Christ – Despite our years of praying and asking God to draw him or her that person continues to reject the Gospel.
Overwhelming uncertainty – Am I on the right path and doing the right things? Should I make a change?
Feeling left out – This malady has its own acronym in today’s world. FOMO stands for fear of missing out. Has life passed me by? Will I ever belong? Why wasn’t I invited?
How do we compensate? How do we keep our hope strong and allow it to gain momentum? We have to go to God’s Word, read it, study it, and live it. And above all, we have to believe the words He has placed before us.
In closing here’s more on hope from God’s Word…
How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, Whose hope is in the LORD his God,
Psalms 146:5 NASB
“Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him. Job 13:15 NASB
Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the LORD. Psalms 31:24 NASB
Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence. Psalms 42:5 NASB
This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:21-23 NASB
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, Hebrews 6:19 NASB
Note: This article is part of an upcoming work, Glimpses of God: Knowing Our Creator. Stay tuned for more sneak previews in coming weeks.
[1] Walvoord, John F. Every Prophecy of the Bible. Colorado Springs: David C. Cook. 2024. p 7.