What is Hope?

We have all heard of hope, but what is it specifically? Is it just a feeling, a belief, or something too fleeting to pin down? And why is it mentioned over 150 times in the Word? Join us below to find the answers to these and other questions on hope!

What is Hope?

There are a number of definitions of hope both in and out of the Word. These range from ‘anticipation for something desired,’ to ‘wanting something to happen,’ to ‘desiring something to be true.’ Yet, perhaps the best definition would be ‘the expectation of positive outcome’—or ‘expecting with confidence’—because this best agrees with “hope” found in the Word…

“Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”—Psalm 31:24

“Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy,”—Psalm 33:18

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope.”—Psalm 130:5

“O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption.”—Psalm 130:7

Hope, as found in God’s Word, is meant to be secure. Something we expect… unlike the hope the world gives, it is less a feeling and instead a surety…

Godly Hope:

We often think of hope as a whisper in our soul to hold on to, and while it can be that, often it can also be fierce and strong.

Consider a long winter in a temperate climate. We know that spring will come again, because it has come before. We hope with a confident expectation that even if delayed, the weather will begin to warm, the flowers blossom, and animals, which may have slumbered through the winter months in hibernation, will again stir.

Now, to hope for spring to come after winter is not something which is likely to surprise many, yet, there are many things we hope for daily that could. For when we follow after God, we daily put our hope in Him… trusting that when we lay down we will either awaken again or find ourselves with Him; that we will not lack our basic needs; and that He will never leave us. For any who Believe in God, these and other hopes are as sure as spring coming after winter. 

Yet, God desires that we put our hope in Him FULLY. For all things and in all situations. He desires relationship, and for that, we have to hope in Him. We require Godly hope—a hope which is true, and sure, and steady.

Hope found in the world is fleeting. It comes and goes as quickly as the tide, rising up like a swell, only to dry out if shaky desires are not met in the timing, way, or ultimate expectation that we had thought. However, hope found in the Word—Godly hope—is firm. 

Godly hope does not come and go, but remains steadfast, because…

• God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (see Hebrews 13:8). 
• God does not lie, He keeps His promises, and He loves without end (see Numbers 23:19; Deuteronomy 7:9; 1 John 4:8). 
• God is perfect (see Matthew 5:48). 

Therefore, because of all these things which are set in our hearts through the Holy Spirit and His Word, any hope which rests in God is going to be safe.

Now, this is not to say that if we ask God for something and put our hope in Him, that we will receive the exact manifestation in our timing of what we desire. After all, God knows best. He sees the whole picture, including the eternal, and we simply do not. 

However, because God is perfect and desires our good, putting our hope in Him is uniquely protected. We can know in our innermost heart and soul, that the One who not only made everything, knows everything, and is working for our good. Even if the manifestation and/or timing of our hope is not exactly what we might want… it WILL benefit us, here and forever with Him.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.”—Jeremiah 17:7

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”—Jeremiah 29:11

Walk in Hope:

So, we know that putting our hope in God is safer than any investment we could ever make on Earth, but how do we walk in that hope? How do we walk in Godly hope?

As with many things, there is no one single answer, save God. If we ask Him, seek Him, search for Him with all our hearts, we will not only find Him, but by finding Him, we will discover hope. We will trust God enough to place our hope in Him more and more until we find that it has become a way of life. A Godly hope.

“…what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”—Matthew 7:9-11

God desires our good and wants to give us good things. When we seek God with all our heart, when we develop relationship with Him… we open the door to accepting His will and ways and in our life. We create a dwelling place for God’s Spirit to rest and a place for Him to operate through us.

By being willing vessels, we open ourselves up to hope, one of three abiding gifts according to 1 Corinthians 13:13 and demarcated as being connected to the helmet of salvation in 1 Thessalonians 5:8. Further, we can give this hope away by sharing the love of the Father—being a tree of life.

• With Godly hope we discover the love of God, for we know that God is love and we love Him for it (see 1 John 4:8). 
• With Godly hope we find trust, for we know God is trustworthy (see Numbers 23:19; Deuteronomy 7:9). 
• With Godly hope we have faith, for we know that without faith it is impossible to please God (see Hebrews 11:6). 
• With Godly hope we find strength, for “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12).

Thus, let us seek God. Let us knock upon the door of Heaven and discover relationship with Him. Let us find the Godly strength of hope, and with it, walk in all God has for us—able as sons and daughters of the King of kings to accept all that He has for us. Ready to walk in kingly and priestly authority—not by anything we have done, but instead through His great love.

Let us hope in Him. 

Sharing that hope, as a light in a dark place.

Would you like to share hope with others? Do you wonder how the hope of God within you can be made known to the world as you honor your Father? Then join us HERE to learn how you can be God’s hands and feet, giving hope to the weary as you share the Father’s love to those in need!Further, you can help bring hope to those most in need HERE as you show the love of the Father to the poor, widows, orphans, needy, and survivors of the Holocaust! You can be a light of Godly hope, reminding them that they are not forgotten by their God!