The Significance of Biblical Hope

Let’s talk about the significance of hope. Hope is our human desire and expectation for something positive to happen. Hope opens the door to possibilities and fuels us to engage life in a positive way, even in our most difficult moments.

We all need hope. Life can be challenging, and we all feel anxious, depressed and defeated at one time or another. It’s in those moments that hope - rightly directed - can affect our minds and bodies, and even contribute to our healing.

There's a familiar saying, “Seeing isn’t believing. Believing is seeing.”

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. - Hebrews 11:1

Sometimes when life throws us a curveball, it isn’t easy to believe or hold onto hope. Many times, our difficult moments lead us to doubt. Thomas from the Bible is a great example of this. When Jesus, Thomas’ friend and mentor, passed away, Thomas’ doubts caused him to lose hope for a time.

Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So, the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” - John 20:24-29

This passage shows that even the disciples sometimes had doubt, but more importantly, it shows us that Jesus met Thomas with grace despite his lack of “perfect faith” amid his life journey. Because of God’s love and faithfulness, you and I, too, can be confident that if our hope is in Christ, God's favor is on our side. He is good and able to show up in the circumstances of our own lives - even the ones that seem impossible. We can place our hope in God, the source of hope, and His ability to bring life from death through the power of the resurrection.

How can we dissolve doubt and turn towards hope?

This process begins with identifying and challenging negative thoughts when they arise. Challenge these thoughts with the promises in God’s Word, prayer, and confidence in God’s faithfulness.

And when you still feel doubt? Wait patiently. Wait patiently, during the midst of your circumstances. Hope is rooted in the faithfulness of God, and we cannot always see what God is doing. We must remind ourselves of who we are and what we have in Christ, even as we wait.

There is a story in Mark 5 about a woman who suffered with constant bleeding for 12 years. She heard about Jesus. For she thought to herself: “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition.

What if this woman had lost hope, and failed to turn to Christ because she viewed her problem as a lost cause? She could have missed out on God’s healing and His glory. Romans 8:25 states, “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

What happens when we hope in the Lord?

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.”

We renew our strength. Strength is the state of being strong and full of energy. It’s physical, mental and emotional.

We will soar on wings like eagles. Eagles rise swiftly, soar, glide, and float. Soaring is done without using power or force. It evokes feelings of exhilaration and joy.

We will run and not grow weary. We will walk and not be faint. Like Hebrews 12:1-3 encourages us, when we place our hope in the One who endured great opposition yet persevered to accomplish our salvation, we will be encouraged to not grow weary and lose heart ourselves.

“…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.”

How amazing it is to be able to go about our days with hope and what God brings!

Because of Christ, we can walk, run and soar without feeling tired, weak or losing heart. We can gain strength and joy when we place our hope and faith in the Lord - even in our most challenging moments.

I don’t know about you, but I want to spend every day with that kind of hope. I don’t want to miss out on the blessings that the Lord has for me and the glory it brings to Him!

When we hope in God, we receive strength, protection, joy and peace – but not only in the here and now. Through faith in Christ, we also receive ultimate hope for the future:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16

What a hope we have in Jesus!

Additional Resources

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. - Romans 15:13

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. - Hebrews 11:1

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. - Hebrews 10:23