The word “hope” in our common, everyday speaking usually refers to something like “wishful thinking.” Such as: I sure HOPE I get that raise. I HOPE it doesn’t rain. I HOPE my team wins. But Biblical hope is nothing at all like wishful thinking. Here’s a Bible definition of hope: an expectation with certainty that God will do what he has said. Read that once more!

Yet, the challenges and difficulties that life throws our way often distract from this type of confidence in God’s promises. The results can be catastrophic. For instance, when hope fades we can be sure there will be a corresponding increase in Anxiety. If we don’t believe our future is secured by God, and being kept by His power, anxiety and fear creep into our souls.

Further, an absence of hope results in an absence of Love. When the hope is gone, our focus turns increasingly inward; looking at our problems, our issues, and our crises. This causes us to forsake the needs of others around us – sometimes even those closest to us. Hope in God will actually birth sacrificial love in us. When we realize God promises to take care of us and will meet all of our needs, we are freed up to love sacrificially and meet the needs of others.

We’ve just completed a year (2020) that was filled with challenges and difficulties; and just because the calendar has turned to a new year does not mean those challenges and difficulties will magically disappear. Actually, things may get much worse before they get better. This is why understanding Biblical HOPE is so crucial for us.