Webster’s Dictionary defines hope as “a feeling that what is wanted is likely to happen; desire accompanied by expectation.”  However, hope from a biblical perspective focuses on confidence in God.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ after His death on a cross provides Christians with the basis for believing that they will likewise be resurrected from death.  However, hope for Christians need not be based on just their future resurrection, but also on the expectation that God will be with them while they are still living on earth (i.e., while they still have a mortal body. 

On page 195 of his book entitled The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren says, “Our hope in difficult times is not based on positive thinking, wishful thinking, or natural optimism.  It is a certainty based on the truths that God is in complete control of our universe and that he loves us.”

The Adult Learner Guide for winter 2010-2011 states that people “need a believable hope about the present and the future,” and goes on to say,

From the biblical perspective, hope is the confident expectation that God is good, trustworthy, and in total control.  Sometimes, however, a believer’s hope in God gets tested. . . . [F]or God’s people, renewed hope is as close as a prayer, whatever the circumstances may be.

One of the questions raised by the last statement is: Who are God’s people?  1 Peter 2:9-10, which was written to both Jewish and gentile Christians, states,

You are a chosen generation [Note:  A number other translations use the term “people” or “race,” instead of “generation.”], a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His [i.e., God’s] own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 

[Note:  When we quote Scripture in this article, we use the wording in the New King James Version of the Bible, unless indicated otherwise.]

So, God’s people are Christians.  People who are not Christians are unable to have the same degree of hope as those who are Christians, because they don’t have assurance of eternal salvation.  However, they can have the same degree of hope by trusting in Jesus Christ as their Savior.   [See our article entitled “What Must a Person Do to Be Assured of Salvation”]

Even some Christians may be living a life that demonstrates a lack of hope, at least with regard to their current life.  If Christians don’t have sufficient trust in God with regard to their life while they are still on earth, they can get bogged down in despair about difficult circumstances that they are having to deal with, despite trusting in God for their eternal salvation.

Although all Christians should benefit from meditating on the scriptures that follow, we especially encourage those Christians who feel like they especially need more hope with regard to their current life to do so.

Psalm 23:  The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.  He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 46:1:  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psalm 55:22a:  Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you. . . .

Psalm 62:7:  In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength; and my refuge is in God.

Proverbs 3:5-6:  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Isaiah 40:31:  [T]hose who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 41:10:  Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you.  Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

John 14:27:  [Jesus said] “Peace I leave with you.  My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Romans 8:28:  [W]e know that all things work together for good to those who love God; to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:38-39:  I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Philippians 4:13:  I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

It is not our intention to treat lightly the difficulties that many Christians have in maintaining their hope for their current life while they are experiencing adverse circumstances.  Instead, we want make it clear that, even in very difficult situations, Christians can have legitimate hope for their current life, because God is with His followers all the time and He can bring good results out of adverse circumstances.   The life of Paul after his conversion is an example of how a person can maintain hope despite all types of adversities, which are summarized by Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:23b-27.