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Hope

I want more hope in my life. It supercharges my faith. It is the energizer bunny to me. It takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

The Bible has quite a lot to say about hope. Biblical hope has as its foundation faith in God. The word hope in English often conveys doubt. I say, “I hope it will not rain tomorrow.” In addition, the word hope is often followed by the word so. This is the answer that some may give when asked if they think that they will go to heaven when they die. They say, “I hope so.” However, that is not the meaning of the words usually translated “hope” in the Bible.

And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. | Romans 5:5 (NASB)

In the Old Testament the Hebrew word batah and its cognates has the meaning of confidence, security, and being without care; therefore, the concept of doubt is not part of this word. In most instances in the New Testament, the word hope is the Greek elpis/elpizo. Again, there is no doubt attached to this word. Therefore, biblical hope is a confident expectation or assurance based upon a sure foundation for which we wait with joy and full confidence. In other words, “There is no doubt about it!”

One of the verses in which we find the word hope is Hebrews 11:1. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” This verse at the beginning of the faith chapter (Hebrews 11) carries with it all of the confidence that comes with knowing for sure, with no question, what we have been promised by God in His Word.

Our faith is confident assurance, for it is founded upon the Rock of our salvation, the Master Jesus the Messiah. All of the actions of the heroes of the faith recorded in Hebrews 11 were made possible because they had this faith based in their confident assurance or hope in God. As believers, we are also called to give an answer for that hope that is within us to any who would ask.

Biblical hope is a reality and not a feeling. Biblical hope carries no doubt. Biblical hope is a sure foundation upon which we base our lives, believing that God always keeps His promises. Hope or confident assurance can be ours when we trust the words, “He who believes on Me has everlasting life”. Accepting that gift of eternal life means our hope is no longer filled with doubt but, rather, has at its sure foundation the whole of God’s Word, the entirety of God’s character, and the finished work of our Master and Savior Jesus the Messiah.

  • Romans 4:18 — In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”
  • Romans 5:2 — through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
  • 2 Corinthians 1:7 — and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.
  • 2 Corinthians 10:15 — Not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we will be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you,
  • 1 Thessalonians 1:3 — constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Master Jesus the Messiah in the presence of our God and Father,
  • 2 Timothy 2:25 — with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,
  • Titus 1:2 — in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago,
  • 1 Peter 3:5 — For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands;
  • 1 John 3:3 — And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
  • Psalm 37:9 — For evildoers will be cut off, But those who wait for the Master, they will inherit the land.
  • Isaiah 40:31 — Yet those who wait for the Master Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.
  • Romans 15:13 — 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.
  • Psalm 33:22 — Let Your lovingkindness, O Master, be upon us, According as we have hoped in You.
  • Psalm 62:5 — My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him.
  • Psalm 71:14 — But as for me, I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more.
  • Proverbs 24:14–16 — Know that wisdom is thus for your soul; If you find it, then there will be a future, And your hope will not be cut off. Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; Do not destroy his resting place; For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of calamity.
  • Isaiah 51:5 — “My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, And My arms will judge the peoples; The coastlands will wait for Me, And for My arm they will wait expectantly.
  • Jeremiah 29:11 — ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Master, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.
  • Lamentations 3:25 — The Master is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him.
  • Micah 7:7 — But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Master; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.
  • Zechariah 9:12 — Return to the stronghold, O prisoners who have the hope; This very day I am declaring that I will restore double to you.