What Does the Bible Say About Hope? A Christian Study

People can survive without much food, water, shelter, clothing, transportation, and even affection. But without hope—many of us would’ve been in the grave by now. Hope is the essence of the Christian faith. We hope to go to heaven one day, we hope that God hears and answers our prayers, and we hope that our labor isn’t in vain.

But what if hope was unnecessary for our faith? What if we could just look up and see heaven physically right in front of us? What if we never had to persevere in faith and prayer? What if everything you ever wanted just happened the way you planned?

“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?” (Romans 8:24).

Without hope we can never fully trust in God with all our hearts. Hope is grasping for what we can’t see, but we believe because of the assurance in our hearts from God. What does the Bible teach us about hope?

Hope brings security

“You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety” (Job 11:18).

House alarms, security guards, and metal detectors offer some hope for protection against wicked people. The eternal hope in Christ means that you’re completely secure in God’s hand in this world and the next. When the storms of life are raging, your anchor is the hope that God is in control.

Hope brings confidence

“No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame” (Psalm 25:3).

Because of our hope in the blood of Jesus, believers don’t have to worry about the shame of our sins. We confess our sins and are covered by His sacrifice. Not because of our good works, but through the grace of God. Christians can come boldly to the throne of grace and seek God’s help because of hope.

Hope brings praise to God

“As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more” (Psalm 71:14)

In the darkest hours and the deepest pain, Christians can still have hope. Believers in Jesus Christ can praise Him even when everything around them looks bleak and dry. Our hope in God reveals that He is in control and He uses everything for our good.

Hope brings eternal value

“There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off” (Proverbs 23:18)

No matter what is going on around us—there is a future hope in Christ. He’s not only working in us at this very moment, but He’s also working out our destiny in His kingdom. Even in our physical death, we have hope of eternal peace, joy, and comfort.

Hope brings strength

“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.” (Isaiah 40:31).

God has planted hope in the heart of every believer so that we can build a strong relationship of love and trust with Him.

The demands of this life can beat us down spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Yet remembering the hope we have in Christ to overcome evil with good, to bless and not curse, and to draw on His word gives us renewed energy to face the world.

Hope brings goodness

“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him” (Lamentations 3:25).

The favor of God rests on those who put their hope in Him. He gives us the ability to excel in our gifts beyond our expectations. Goodness from the Lord is evident in our speech and actions because of the hope we have in our hearts.

Hope brings joy

“Be joyful in hope” (Romans 12:12)

Our outward circumstances may be exceptionally painful and difficult to deal with, but because of hope we still have joy. The hope in Christ stirs up our joy so that we can praise the Lord in song and dance even in the midst of hardship.

Hope brings love

^“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Romans 5:5).

Hope reveals the love of God that is within every believer. We are moved by the Spirit of God to show love to others in the hope that they will come to know Christ. Hope is the filter in which love is expressed in action and not just words.

Hope brings faith

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

The evidence or assurance of our faith in God is hope. We don’t have to see Him to believe that He exists. The Spirit gives witness to our spirit that hope in God is a sure foundation that we can build our lives on.

Where is your Hope?

Hope can be lost and found. It can be as tiny as an atom and still pack a powerful punch in the eye of despair. Hope is the gentle tug within the heart of every Christian to comfort us when we are tossed to and fro by trials. Hope is a powerful stimulant for the brokenhearted and dejected especially when we’ve lost loved ones in death.

There is always hope even for the unbeliever in that “anyone who is among the living has hope—even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!” (Ecclesiastes 9:4). God has planted hope in the heart of every believer so that we can build a strong relationship of love and trust with Him. Where is your hope? Let it grow and nourish in the word of God everyday.