The word “hope” in ordinary English vocabulary is generally distinguished from certainty. We would say, “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I hope it will be something good. ”
When we read about hope in the Bible, hope is not wishful thinking. Hope is not a plan B if my current plan doesn’t work out. Having your hope anchored in Jesus means that you trust Him and His promises. Having Jesus-hope is having confidence that whatever it is you are hoping for will come to pass.
“Set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” – 1 Peter 1:13
Hope is a portion of our faith. Faith and hope, in my mind, are overlapping realities: Hope is faith in the future tense – most of faith is hope. Just like faith, hope is strengthened by the word of God and is encourages the growth of faith.
“Faith comes by hearing the word of God” – Romans 10:17
Four reasons to have hope in Jesus
The Bible is filled with messages of hope, and those messages can illuminate event the darkest night. Here are a few Bible verses to give you confidence to place you hope in Jesus.
1. You are not forgotten: “But God remembered Noah and the wild animals, and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth and the waters receded.” – Genesis 8:1
2. God brought you to it, He will get you through it: “He has brought us by faith into this experience of God’s grace, in which we now live. And so we boast of the hope we have of sharing God’s glory! We also boast of our troubles, because we know that trouble produces endurance, endurance brings God’s approval and his approval creates hope.” – Romans 5:2-4
3. He promises confidence within hope:“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope He has given to those He called – His holy people who are His rich and glorious inheritance.” –Ephesians 1:18
Having hope in Jesus is more than just crossing your fingers, making a wish, or having a plan B. Hope in Jesus is knowing that He’s got this.
So, today, look away from the confronting circumstances that are standing in front of you. Look to His promises, and hold on tight. Hope is attainable through Jesus and He is bigger than any of the ravages that this world brings.
On 25 September, Christians all over the world are sharing a single message of hope in Jesus on Facebook. If you want to be a part of this campaign, join the Facebook Event to find out more!