What Does The Bible Say About Hope?
The Bible is full of encouragement and brings hope to those who seek it. It speaks of the power of God to bring positive change into our lives and instructs us how to live in a way that will bring us lasting joy. The Bible talks about hope not as a wish but rather as an act of faith and trust in God.
The Bible is full of exhortations to rely on God’s promises and His providence. In Romans 4:15-17, it reads: “For 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 have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” This verse speaks to us about the need to have faith in the unseen. It teaches us that we do not need to make elaborate plans, but we should totally trust in God and wait patiently even when the journey feels long and lonely.
The Bible also reminded us to be mindful of our thoughts and not entertain negative and despairing thinking. Philippians 4:8 says,”Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Keeping our thoughts and attitudes positive even in difficult times is vital if we want to nurture hope in our lives.
Additionally, the Bible instructs us to be hopeful and expectant of the future. In Psalm 25:3 it reads: “No one who hope in you…”. We see here that the Psalmist was confident of God’s goodness and mercy. He put his trust in the Lord and looked for Him to bring him joy and peace. The Bible also encourages us to recall the things God has done in the past and not give up hope of Him being faithful in the present and the future. Isaiah 40:31 reads, “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.” This verse encourages us to keep our eyes focused on eternity and on the faithfulness of God. He is our unshakable hope and every promise He has made towards us remains unbroken.
The Bible also talks about hope being a way to endure suffering and trials. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” This passage speaks to us of Jesus who stayed the course even when the going got tough. We can take courage and inspiration from this and draw strength from it when we go through our own difficult moments.
The Power of The Cross
The Bible continuously reminds us of the hope and salvation that can be found at the cross. No matter how deep our despair, Jesus’ sacrifice is an unending source of hope for us that no circumstance or situation can take away. We are further encouraged to trust in God’s unfailing love for us in Romans 8:37-39 where it reads: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This promise of God’s love being more powerful than anything else serves to give us hope and peace and courage in times of trials.
Living In The Moment With Hope
Finally, the Bible speaks to us of living in the present moment with hope and positivity. We can draw on the strength of the Lord and live in the present knowledge that whatever might come in the future, He has already provided us the strength and courage to go through it. In Lamentations 3:21-23, it reads: “Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” This verse serves to remind us that hope is something that we build one day at a time.
The Hope of Eternal Life
Hope for our eternal destination is found in the promise of Jesus. His death and resurrection gives us the assurance that if we follow Him and keep His commandments, we can live with Him in eternity. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We know that Jesus is our only hope of Salvation and this knowledge should serve to instil faith and hope in our hearts.
The Hope of Redemption
The Bible promises us redemption and healing of our wounds if we are willing to repent of our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. In 2 Corinthians 7:10, it reads, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret.” We are further encouraged to seek forgiveness and redemption through Jesus’ death, and to be assured that our souls and bodies can be made whole again.
The Hope of Answered Prayers
Finally, the Bible encourages us to remain hopeful about the answers to our prayers. In James 5:16 it reads, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” We are assured here that our prayers are heard and God will answer them according to His will. The Bible reminds us to remain hopeful and encouraged in the midst of our problems and every time we pray, let us trust that God’s will will done.
