Life can be cruel sometimes. We all experience the inevitable ups and downs of life. When we are hurt, depressed, and lost, it all feels overwhelming, and we sink into the pit of darkness. Sometimes, it may seem like there’s no way out of it.
If we find hope in Jesus, we can overcome adversity because we know God is our rock and salvation. Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.”
When we fill our hearts and minds with the hope that he will not forsake us, we gain the courage and strength to face any adversity. If you set your mind and heart on the great God, there is always hope of grace, peace, eternal life, and a better future.
Key Takeaways
- The article underscores that hope in the Bible is grounded in faith in God’s promises, serving as a steadfast anchor during trials.
- It highlights hope as crucial for mental and emotional resilience, offering strength, courage, and purpose amidst life’s challenges.
- Hope inspires Christians to reassess priorities, live courageously, and perceive suffering with an eternal perspective. Practical suggestions include engaging with scripture and fostering supportive relationships.
Contents
What Is Hope?
The word “hope” is a confident expectation based on reality. When you hope, you believe and look forward to having something better in store for you, but you also think you must strive and work hard to make your desires a reality.
Wishful thinking differs from hope in that it is an attitude or belief that something you desire will occur even if it is not likely or possible. When we want something but make no effort to obtain it, we are engaging in wishful thinking, not hoping.
Christian hope is faith in God through Jesus. It is a confident declaration that God is faithful and will finish what He has begun. It is also that confident expectation that patiently and ardently awaits the fulfillment of God’s purposes[1].
What Is The Significance Of Hope?
Whenever a person tells you to “hold on to hope,” you may wonder what one’s hope has to do with what one is going through. Some people even believe that one of the most valuable qualities in life is being hopeful. So, why is hope so important in our lives? When you have such hope, you have the assurance that something good will happen.
Imagine a life without hope; it is complete chaos and disaster. Living in despair is like watching your entire world crumble and doing nothing to save it. When we are hopeless, we go through life in misery, discouragement, anguish, and agony. When there is no hope—when people cannot see the desired end to their difficulties—they lose motivation to persevere.
Hope is everything, for it gives you a reason to live. Hope will encourage you to live in the present while planning for and anticipating the future. “Where there is no hope in the future, there is no power in the present,” John Maxwell said.
First Peter 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
According to Scripture, true hope is significant because it gives you strength and courage. Set hope as your anchor when we are tossed with struggles and storms. “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19, NIV).
Hope brings joy and blessings. We believe our desires will come true and express certainty that we are doing and going well. We don’t have time to doubt or be afraid of hope because we have confidence and trust that everything will be fine. Our life’s journey becomes more rewarding and beautiful.
What Is The Hope Meaning In The Bible?
In the Old Testament, “to hope” can be translated to some Hebrew verbs such as qawa [h”w’q], which may denote “hope” in the sense of “trust,” as when Jeremiah addresses God, “Our hope is in you” (Jer 14:22 ). It encourages believers to wait for God with hope and expectation. “Wait for the Lord in times of trouble; He will turn things around” (Psalm 25:21; 27:14; 40:1; 130:5).
Biblical hope is firmly associated with God’s promises that those who hope and are patient to wait for him will not be disappointed and will receive grace. In the Scriptures, He is a God of Hope. God made the hopes of the people a reality. Our hope rests in Him.
Believe and trust that God rewards those who seek Him diligently. His hope never fails to disappoint us. We must lift real hope to the power of the Holy Spirit in everything we do and not lean and rest on anyone other than the Lord in our times of need, but we look to Jesus, for He is a God of Hope and our only hope!
In the Greek Old Testament, the word “hope” is translated as hupomeno [uJpomevnw], “to wait,” “to be patient,” and “to endure.” The Bible verse “I patiently wait for the Lord” (Psalm 40:1; 130:5–6) was when a person’s hope was realized after patiently waiting and believing that God would strengthen and uphold them with his righteous right hand.
The New Testament uses the verb elpizo [ejlpivzw] and the noun Elpis [ejlpiv”] for hope. The apostle Paul writes about setting our hope on God, “For to this end we toil and strive because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially those who believe.” (1 Tim 4:10) and on the Holy Spirit.
In the same way that hope is linked to patient endurance in the Old Testament, trials lead to hope in the New Testament. It means we should rejoice in our suffering because suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope.
The biblical hope of the New Testament is primarily eschatological. “Eschatological” means a time after death when humans fully participate in the hope they have already begun to experience in part in life. Eschatological hope is securely based on the sure promise that Christ will ultimately triumph.
Our faith and trust that we have been rescued for eternity are the foundations of hope. This hope changes our entire outlook on life. Biblical hope is not wishful thinking. Instead, hope is based on the certainty and confidence that God, who sent Christ to pay the penalty for our sins, will meet our needs now and forever.
Why Does Hope Play A Huge Role In Our Lives?
Hope Inspires Christians To Reconsider Their Beliefs
Christians deny ungodliness and worldly lust and believe that life isn’t about the latest gadgets, jewelry, and other things. A Christian lives a righteous life. At the same time, we await the blessed hope—the glorious appearance of our great Savior.
Enjoying your material wealth as a blessing from God to be used to glorify him is acceptable, but when that same wealth separates you from God and impedes your spiritual growth, that is different. True joy and peace rest in our faith and hope in the Lord.
In Luke 12:15, He warned the people, “Be careful to guard yourselves against all kinds of greed.” “Having a lot of material possessions in life is not important.” Joy and peace are not found in material possessions but in faith and hope in Christ.
Hope Inspires Christians To Live Boldly
2 Corinthians 3:12 says, “Therefore since we have such a hope, we are very bold.” Boldness is defined in the Bible as “the courage to act or speak fearlessly, despite real or imagined dangers.”
The first sense of boldness comes from within, while the second requires humility as we recognize we cannot be bold on our own. We have the courage and confidence to do good deeds and stand up for the truth because we know we have a solid understanding of God’s word.
Hope Encourages Christians To View Suffering Differently
Instead of believing that God sends us hardships because he does not love us, hope allows us to understand the purpose and reason for our suffering.
With hope, we don’t think of the world as a fallen world where we struggle and feel that it is a massive failure of God’s plans. We hope in God because we know that suffering is temporary and that there is eternal glory in heaven.
2 Ways To Bring Hope Back To Your Life
Spend Time Reading God’s Words
The Bible reveals God’s character and God’s revelation of himself to his people. We see God’s holy, unchanging, faithful, gracious, and loving nature in each section of the Bible.
As a Christian, you believe the Bible is God’s Word to us. Everyone can benefit from the Bible’s knowledge, truth, and hope. The Bible can have an immediate impact on your Christian life. It is also full of God’s promises. “The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8, NIV).
Surround Yourself With The Right People
Surrounding yourself with the wrong company can affect your faith in God, impacting your character and how you perceive yourself, others, and the world.
Pessimistic people are usually in the wrong company in your life. They aren’t good for your spiritual or physical well-being because they can undermine your faith and trust in God, leading to doubt, hopelessness, and fear. One of the most important aspects of growing in your faith is developing meaningful relationships with other Christians who have a genuine and mature walk with God.
Summary
Hope is a powerful force that can alter the course of your life. It is the confidence that all of your dreams will come true. When we face challenges, we hope that we will be able to overcome them. If we believe in God, we know that He has plans to prosper us rather than harm us.
“But those who hope in the Lord will be renewed in strength; they will soar on eagle’s wings; they will run and not grow tired; they will walk and not faint.” Hope gives us the strength, courage, and patience to work hard and overcome adversity because we know God will not abandon us. So, whatever happens, always remember to hold on to hope.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is hope important to God?
Hope is vital to God as it represents faith in His promises, guiding believers through trials and fostering resilience and trust. It serves as a beacon of light in darkness, strengthening the bond between humanity and the divine, showcasing His enduring love and compassion.
What are the 3 types of hope?
The three types of hope include cognitive, emotional, and motivational. Cognitive hope involves goal-setting and problem-solving, emotional hope centers on maintaining positivity amidst adversity, and motivational hope drives action and persistence towards desired outcomes.
What is the purpose of hope in life?
Hope in life provides direction, resilience, and meaning, guiding individuals through challenges with optimism and determination. It inspires goal-setting, motivation, and a sense of possibility for a brighter future, enriching the human experience with purpose and aspiration.