What the Bible says about Hope

“May God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace by means of your faith in him, so that your hope will continue to grow by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 (GNB)

As we head into the Christmas season – a time of joy, celebration and fellowship – what better way to reflect on the past year and draw up plans for the future than to extract the message of hope scattered throughout the pages of God’s Word?

For many, the festive season does not inspire excitement, conviction and the promise of a brighter tomorrow. It is often the opposite, as feelings of hopelessness and despair overwhelm the cheerful festive spirit. Poverty, war, crime, addiction, loneliness, illness, abuse and trauma are rife in the world around us, and the promise of hope lies dormant in the hearts of those affected by heartache, pain and devastating loss.

How, then, do we find the courage to hope? To believe that things will get better and the sun will shine again? As believers of Christ, we can turn to God’s Word, his infallible guidebook for life, that never fails us. 

Four key things the Bible says about hope:

One

“Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times.” Romans 12:12 (GNB) 

In this portion of Scripture, Paul provides us with three simple commands for an emotionally and spiritually fulfilled life in Christ. The first, to rejoice in hope, is a reminder to be consciously aware of our reason for joy and mindful of our true reason for hope – to be united with our Father in heaven. 

Second, he tells us to be patient during hardships and trials. While this may be one of the most complex rules for a Christian to follow, it ties in significantly with the third section of this verse – “pray at all times.”

Paul tries to illustrate that while life on earth may be challenging, gruelling and torturous for many, eternal glory in the presence of God surpasses even the most horrific encounters in life.

During times of suffering, hope is found through prayer, communion with God, and the belief in His promise of the future. 

Two

“For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.” 1 Timothy 4:10 (KJV)

This Scripture in 1 Timothy points directly to humanity’s known suffering and turmoil. The verse tells us that the Bible does not overlook or minimise people’s hardships; instead, our trust and faith in the living God, our Saviour Jesus Christ, carries us through such trials with the firm promise of hope and a future. 

Three

“I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.” Jeremiah 29:11 (GNB) 

Jeremiah was a young man whom God chose to minister His word to the people of Judah. This was no small task, and an inexperienced Jeremiah said no to God. Eventually, he embraced his calling and accepted the responsibility of delivering God’s message.

This Scripture, and Jeremiah’s story is a beautiful depiction of how placing our trust in God’s plan for our lives gives way to hope and a future. Though adamant and afraid, Jeremiah learned that God’s truth was the start of his journey toward a life planned for him – a future not designed to bring destruction and peril but one filled with hope and promise.

As believers, we all have something to learn from this Scripture, as many of us often depend on ourselves to build a future that we see fit for our own lives, while in reality, God’s plan for our lives is what we should strive toward achieving by placing our trust solely in Him.

Four

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

Placing our hope in God and believing that He will deliver on His promises is what makes us Christian believers. Though we cannot see it, we have hope in each new day because of Christ. We have hope in the future. We have hope in the Word of God. Hope can be found throughout the pages of the Bible, and it teaches us that we can move through life with confidence because God’s Word is true and faithful and will come to pass despite our circumstances.

Entering the period of festivity and relaxation is a blessing for many. However, we should constantly be reminded of the ultimate reason for celebration: the birth of our Saviour, through whom all hope flows. Remember, compassion, empathy and support for those who need it most are values instilled in us through Jesus, and by placing the Word of God in someone’s hands – we can give them the single source of hope upon which every living being relies; the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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