HOPE.

Hope. What is hope?

It is both a noun and a verb. According to the New Oxford American Dictionary, the definitions are as such:
(noun): a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen
(verb): to cherish a desire with anticipation, to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence

If we connect these definitions to our lives, where can we find ourselves putting hope? What are the kinds of things we are hoping for?

I think hope is beautiful. It has the ability to alter our mindsets, to bring a positive outlook on something. Although we can hope for something to stay the same, I would assume the times in which we have clung to hope is because we are anticipating or desiring a change.

As I have been reflecting on what has really brought me out of feeling stuck in certain areas of life- whether relationships, circumstances, my future, etc. it is hope that renews and restores an element of peace within me. But where does this hope come from? Can it endure?

If the thing I hope for is not given, or if it is taken away- would I therefore conclude that hope is gone? If I hope for a certain job to open up for me next year, and I don’t get it, will I despair? If I hope for relationships to change, or they are taken away- does my source of hope go away? It has made me ask the question, do we immediately find a new situation/person/ desire to put our hope in once one goes away? There are times when I have hoped and felt disappointed. I have desired things, wanted things to happen, wanted changed circumstances, desired healing, wanted a relationship, etc.


CS Lewis quoted this on the fulfillment of desire…


“Most people, if they had really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you, but they never quite keep their promise.”

So, can there be a contradiction? How can the Bible say that hope does not dissapoint, yet my hope does not seem to last? I came to the conclusion that we need to start discerning our method of hope, but also what we are putting our hope in.

What if there was something, actually Someone, who could not only be the source of our hope, but fully satisfy our desires and be our ultimate hope?


Jesus came to bring hope. Jesus himself is hope- “Whoever should believe in him, shall not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. Through having a relationship with Jesus, we can know that we are known, forgiven, and free, for all of eternity. Because of what Jesus did on the cross, He established for us an eternal hope. He made the way for us to be back in relationship with God, the One who made us, sustains us, and deeply loves us.The Bible says that hope does not disappoint... why? because God has poured his love into our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).


This hope is not just something for our time on earth here- we have expectation that in heaven, all things will be made new and restored. We will live in perfect harmony with Go and with each other. All of our desires and longings will be satisfied. Ultimate hope will be fulfilled. The injustices, disappointments, and heartaches we have endured on this earth will be made right, and there will be a never ending source of renewal, joy, and hope.


Revelation 21:3-4 says,

“Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mounrning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”


God not only is hope, but he gives hope. This hope is not something that is conditional based on success, circumstances, or our ability. This hope does not fade when ours does. This hope stands true, even when everything else seems to be falling apart. Why? This hope is a Person. A Person who came to earth to show His love, died on a cross to achieve for us forgiveness of sins and rose again to conquer death. His victory instills within our hearts an ultimate, freely given, hope.

Again to quote my fav, CS Lewis...

“Hope is one of the Theological virtues. This means that a continual looking forward to the eternal world is not (as some modern people think) a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do. It does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next.”

We have the most beautiful message of hope to hold onto and to share. We have promises that we can hold onto in spite of any change or disappointment. We have the ability to override despair because of our hope in Jesus. In the book of Hebrews, the author describes hope as an “anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” (v19).

The things that we put our hope in within this world are not going to last..they will fade. But when we hope in something outside of ourselves, the promise of redemption, of a Savior that loves us, of a life that is never ending, of a constant companion, of a love that is inexhaustible and greater than we know, of truth, of guidance, of peace, of security, comfort, etc.- and when those things are rooted in Jesus, that is when it does not disappoint.

We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice,

for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD,

for our hope is in you alone.

-Psalm 33:20-22