Hope is an essential part of the Christian faith. The Bible has a lot to say about hope and provides Christians with a foundation for hoping in God even in the midst of difficult circumstances. Here is an overview of the biblical definition of hope and what the Bible teaches about living in hope.
Hope is Expecting and Believing
At its most basic, biblical hope means to expect and believe. The Hebrew word translated “hope” in the Old Testament means to wait for, look for, or expect. The New Testament Greek word for hope means expectation as well. Hope is more than simply wishing—it involves patiently waiting, expecting, looking for, and trusting God for what He has promised. Romans 8:24-25 says, “For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”
Christian Hope is Rooted in God’s Promises
Biblical hope is rooted in the promises of God. We can hope because of the trustworthy nature of God who always keeps His promises. Psalm 119:49 says, “Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope.” Our hope comes from believing in God’s revealed truth in Scripture. Romans 15:4 says, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” The Bible gives us promises to put our hope in.
Hope Produces Joy and Peace
Hope is directly linked to joy and peace in the Christian life. Romans 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Hope fuels our faith and helps us experience joy and peace even in suffering. Hebrews 3:6 says, “But Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.” Clinging to hope produces confidence, joy, and peace.
Put Your Hope in God Alone
The Bible tells us to put our hope in God alone, not other people or earthly things. Psalm 62:5 says, “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.” God is the only foundation for unshakeable, confident hope. When our hope is in the Lord, we will not be shaken. Psalm 71:5 says, “For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth.” God wants us to find hope in Him alone.
Hope Anchors Our Soul
Hope is like an anchor for the soul, giving us stability, security, and strength. Hebrews 6:19 describes it as “a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.” When storms arise, the anchor of biblical hope holds us firmly in place. Psalm 33:20 says, “Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.” Firm hope in the Lord provides strength no matter what we face.
Wait for God’s Timing with Hope
Waiting with hope means trusting in God’s perfect timing. Lamentations 3:25 says, “The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.” Waiting for God requires hopeful patience, not passive resignation. Our hope teaches us to wait actively and expectantly on Him. Psalm 130:5 says, “I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.” Biblical hope helps us wait.
Hope Remains Through Suffering
Biblical hope remains even in the midst of suffering. Romans 5:2-5 describes hope in suffering this way: “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” God uses suffering to produce stronger hope.
Our Hope is in the Resurrection
The basis of Christian hope is Jesus’ resurrection. 1 Peter 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” The resurrection bolsters our hope because it demonstrates Christ’s power over death. 1 Corinthians 15:19 says, “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” Our hope rests on the certainty that Jesus rose.
Hope Encourages Future Focus
Hope enables us to focus on the future God has promised. Titus 1:2 says, “In hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began.” Biblical hope motivates us to live in light of eternity. Titus 2:13 calls it “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Hope helps us focus on Christ’s return.
Full Redemption Fulfills Our Hope
Our future hope will be fulfilled in complete redemption from sin. 1 Peter 1:13 says, “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” When Christ returns, our hope will be fully realized in glorification and eternal life. Romans 8:23-25 describes it like this: “And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” One day, our hope will be made complete in redemption.
Hope Produces Perseverance
Hope leads to perseverance and motivation to continue following Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 says, “Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” Steadfast hope produces patience and endurance in suffering. Romans 5:4 says, “And endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” Hope fuels us to press on in faithfulness to God.
The Hope of Salvation
Ultimately, the basis of Christian hope is the hope of salvation that Christ provides. Colossians 1:27 says, “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Salvation in Christ is our supreme hope. Ephesians 1:18 calls it “the hope to which he has called you.” This hope of eternal life motivates us to live godly lives. Titus 2:11-14 says, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” The hope Christ provides drives us toward holiness.
In summary, biblical hope means trusting completely in the promises of God, believing they will be fulfilled even though they have not yet come to pass. This active, expectant hope provides strength and encouragement for Christians to persevere through suffering as they set their hope on eternity with Christ. The resurrection of Jesus and the salvation He provides are the basis for our future hope. God wants believers to find hope in Him alone and wait and trust in His perfect timing. Biblical hope produces joy, peace, and perseverance in the Christian life. Ultimately, the hope of salvation in Christ motivates believers to live godly lives in the present with their eyes set on eternity.
