Why Christian Hope Is More Than Wishful Thinking
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The world is desperate for hope. That’s no surprise. Watching the news can make a person feel hopeless, and struggling with personal circumstances – especially in times of great suffering or grief – can drain hope. Some people wish they knew how to face another day.
Far more than wishful thinking, biblical hope is real, solid, and comforting. Let’s consider why this is true.
Hope in God Surpasses the World’s Hope
When planning to travel, we might say, “I hope a storm doesn’t come through.” Or perhaps we’ll think, “I hope I can find the dress I need at Macy’s.” That’s not biblical hope. It’s the world’s “hope so.” Wishful thinking cannot compare with a believer’s hope in God.
For Christians, hope is a confident expectation and trust in God, His promises, and future blessings anticipated in Christ. Rather than merely wishing for change, biblical hope is a firm anchor to keep us grounded and is the basis of our transformation. God works in us through the Word and the Spirit as we place our hope in the finished work of Christ.
John wrote, “The Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world” (1 John 4:14). Jesus is the Father’s answer to our cry for hope. The hope in the gospel is that Jesus was obedient unto death, sacrificing His life to bear our sins, and then was resurrected to life to secure eternal life for those who trust Him for salvation.
As an old hymn by Edward Mote says, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ, my righteousness. . . . When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.” This is our living hope beyond the grave (1 Peter 1:3).
Hope Strengthens Us When It’s Pursued
As I struggled with a challenging medical procedure after a diagnosis of multiple myeloma, I could not speak because of painful lesions in my mouth and throat. Fighting hopeless feelings, I went to the whiteboard in my hospital room and wrote: “Choose hope! My hope is in the Lord!”
From my hospital bed, I glanced at the whiteboard many times that day and looked up Scriptures about hope. I cooperated with God by intentionally pursuing hope, and nurses and other hospital staff noted the positive change in my outlook. Hope continued to strengthen me throughout my hospital stay.
Living with biblical hope can transform every circumstance in life. It’s worth pursuing. John Piper, writing about Hebrews 6:11-12, encouraged Christians to pursue hope until the day God calls them home. “In other words,” Piper said, “with all the zeal of the past that enabled you to work and love in the name of Christ — with all that zeal, keep on pursuing the full assurance of hope to the end. . . . Keep your hope hot!”
When we are depressed, it helps to rehearse the benefits we have from the God of hope. When our expectations are in the Lord, recalling His benefits will nourish our hope no matter what we go through.
Hope Grows through Interaction with the Bible
A 2023 “State of the Bible” report by the American Bible Society found that Americans who prioritize reading and engaging with the Bible are likelier than non-Bible readers to walk with hope day by day.
Tough times might hinder our seeing the big picture of what God is doing in the world and His eternal purposes for each believer. We may become obsessed with our struggle and forget to seek God during our questions or tears. Or maybe we’re angry with Him for allowing painful circumstances to touch us. But lingering in the Scriptures can help us remember the big picture of our struggles and cultivate our sense of hope.
The psalmist said, “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long” (Psalm 25:5). Despite all the pressures in his life, including terrible opposition, David asked God to teach him biblical truth while expressing his hope in Him.
Hope doesn’t mean that any damage done to our hearts through painful circumstances suddenly disappears. It means we may hurt deeply, but the pain stops controlling our lives. We recognize difficult realities, but through reading, studying, and meditating on biblical truth, we acknowledge that God designs hope-filled purposes for His children amid those realities (Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-4). We look to Him for help, healing, and hope.
Hope Rejoices in Trusting God
Jeremiah 17:7 says, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is in the Lord.” Choosing hope is akin to faith. Biblical hope looks away from the pain to God’s promises in His Word, trusting Him to supply what we need to cope. Through faith, we understand that God is not our backup plan when life falls apart; He is our very life. Our hope is in Him, not some nebulous place away from struggles. So, Christian hope is not pie-in-the-sky hope or feeble hope. It’s authentic, trustworthy, and powerful.
Paul instructed the church to “rejoice in hope” (Romans 12:12). How can we be joyful in hope when going through tough times? Consider the source. Our joy and hope are rooted in the God of hope. While we might experience anxiety, hurt deeply, or lament loss, we can simultaneously praise God because our hope is in Him, not changing circumstances.
Habakkuk was filled with fear and dread when he heard a report about how God would use Babylon to discipline Judah. But with great hope, he chose to trust God in that day of distress. The prophet said, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuk 3:18). Notice the words “yet I will.” Saying “yet I will” was Habakkuk’s choice. “Yet I will” means that no matter what happens in life, when our hope is in God, we can praise Him regardless.
Choosing worry or anxiety will not help, but choosing hope helps us trust God when we grow impatient with our circumstances. Psalm 62:5 says, “Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.”
In Romans 15:13, Paul said, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” There is action on God’s part and our part. God holds onto us, and we, holding on to our profession of faith in Christ, trust God’s provision. As a result, our lives brim over with hope through the empowering Holy Spirit.
Hope Is Available for Trials and Troubles
The Scriptures offer us a unique perspective on hope for trials and troubles. Hope does not mean life will be easy or that we’ll always get what we want, but it does mean we have a reliable source of strength to endure.
One of the most desperate words in any language is “hopeless.” Whether we are struggling with a frustrating situation or have been hit broadside with a profound tragedy, desperation and despair feel natural and understandable. But in those times, God reaches out to believers to draw them near.
Psalm 71, likely written by King David, is a psalm of trust and hope in God, particularly during old age and trials. In verse five, he said, “For you, O Lord, are my hope.” He recognized the source of real and lasting hope! The psalmist expressed both the despair of a hurting heart and the balm for it in Psalm 42:5: “Why, my soul, are you downcast? … Put your hope in God; for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” There’s that word “yet” again; it’s a choice.
When suffering, believers who choose hope reflect on the blessings they have in God. A good example is Jeremiah. First, he lamented his afflictions (Lamentations 3:1-20), but then he recalled God’s attributes: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). Jeremiah listed three great reasons that sparked fresh hope in God: His steadfast love, His never-ending mercies, and His continuing faithfulness. Focusing on God’s attributes in our trials can give us hope, too.
Hope Is Comforting When We Grieve
Perhaps no circumstance is more painful than the death of a loved one, but Paul never told the Lord’s followers not to grieve when a brother or sister in Christ dies. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13, he told them not to grieve “as others do who have no hope.” Biblical hope comforts the soul.
The apostle shared hope-filled words with the Thessalonian believers to encourage and comfort them. Those who hope in God and His Son, Jesus, do not grieve like the world. That’s not to say there is no heartache involved, but the believers’ hope — their confidence that they will see their loved ones in Christ again — carries them through their pain.
Jesus offered the Samaritan woman powerful words of hope when He said, “Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11:25-26). Isaiah and John remind us there will be no more death when we’re in eternity with God (Isaiah 25:8; Revelation 21:4).
God holds our lives in His hands from birth to death, and Christ's love in dying for us is at the root of our hope. Someday, Jesus will return, and if we have received the gift of salvation, our glorious, blessed hope is that we will live with Him forever.
Hope Is Part of a Powerful Testimony
While we pursue hope in response to trials, it’s good to remember that others watch and listen to us as we go through our troubles. Marshall Segal, president and CEO of Desiring God, said, “Many will not be curious about the hope within us unless we suffer something that requires hope . . . . When you suffer, think about the people watching you suffer, and what they’re learning about Jesus.”
In 1 Peter 3:15, the apostle Peter said we must always be ready to gently and respectfully tell people the reason for the hope they see in us. We might ask ourselves, “Do people notice the reality of hope in my responses to tough circumstances?”
For example, while interviewing me before a challenging medical procedure, a social worker asked, “If things get really hard when you’re in the hospital, what will help you — what would you turn to?” The question was a terrific opportunity to share without hesitation that whenever life gets tough, it’s not a what but a who that helps me. I told her, “My hope is in the Lord.” The social worker smiled, knowing I would be okay.
According to 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, as God comforts us, we can encourage others as they go through their own trials. We can share about God’s faithfulness and provision, which can inspire others to persevere. Hope grows in a caring, supportive community of believers.
Remember: The God of hope wants to give you solid, enduring hope in His Son. Ground your hope in Him and His Word, and keep your hope hot!
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/molchanovdmitry
