What Does the Bible Say about Hope?

Sarah Frazer Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
Updated Mar 27, 2019

How many stars can you see when you gaze up at the sky? Depending on your location you may only see a few or you may see thousands! My husband is excited because we will be moving to a more rural place next year. Away from the city lights we will be able to see an amazing view of the night sky. Right now we see a few stars on a clear night. Soon we will be able to see an entire black sky lit with the beauty of even more stars!

If my husband had his “dream job” it would be astronomy. Gazing at the night sky, scanning the vastness through the lens of a telescope, and studying the heavenly bodies is his favorite hobby. Maybe God designed him to love it as he is definitely a “night owl” and loves to stay up late. While we were dating we would stay out looking through his telescope. He would show me Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, and a countless number of star clusters.

Although it is fascinating to me to see these things, which are so far away, I am equally impressed with the verse in Genesis that says, “and God made the stars also.” The current estimate for the number of stars is 1 billion trillion.

And to think God made all of these stars as a single afterthought.

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Hope is like a star.

Stars are amazing but you can only see them in the dark. The darker the sky the brighter the stars. A famous preacher once said the same thing about hope:

Hope itself is like a star – not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity. -- C.H. Spurgeon

Hope is like a star. Often, we only see it when we are facing suffering.

Are you facing a season of loneliness, grief, depression, anxiety, or even hopelessness? God says no darkness is too dark for Him (Psalm 139:11-12).

The same God who formed the stars holds your hand, even in the dark.

Our hope may seem insignificant, but as the trials of this life press into us we can look up at the sky and be reminded that hope is real; and our hope is secure in Jesus Christ.

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We can choose to be secure in hope.

Paul talks about this hope in Romans 5:3-5: “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. 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.”

The Bible has a lot to say about hope. One of the basic truths is that suffering only brings out our hope even more. How could Paul tell the Roman believers to “rejoice in their suffering”?

The difference between a Christian’s response to suffering and someone without Christ is hope.

If we truly believe our suffering will be worked to create something good (Romans 8:38), the darkness of hurt, pain, grief, and heartache will only produce hope.

The suffering in life is unavoidable. From the rejection we might experience as children, to the hurt of loss as we grow older, we can’t choose whether we suffer or not.

We can choose whether to have hope. Our security comes in what we believe – not our feelings.

Are you choosing to believe God is faithful, true, and with you? If you choose it – even daily, you have this secure hope talked about in the Bible.

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What is biblical hope?

A hope that doesn’t bring shame.

Romans 5:5, Psalm 25:3: Because of God’s love, we have a hope that will never put us to shame. The Holy Spirit has been given to secure this hope in our hearts. When we hope in God it will not be embarrassing. God will never let us down.

A hope that leads to praise.

Psalm 42:5; Psalm 42:11: When we are downcast, hoping in God can cause us to praise God, even in the midst of suffering. In the moment it might be tough (or even impossible) to praise God. If we hold on to the hope of God we will one day sing again.

A hope that is living.

I Peter 1:3: Our hope is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because of His death and resurrection we have a hope that is alive. Our hope is not in something invisible or a hope that wishes something will come true. Our hope is already true: Jesus is alive today!

A hope filled with joy and peace.

Romans 15:13: Our hope is not one that will leave us empty. Our hope will bring joy and peace to our hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God lives inside of us and He reminds us of the joy and peace we have in Christ – daily!

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Jesus is the answer to our hope.

In Romans, Paul answers the question: What do we hope in? Jesus Christ is the answer to our hope.

Hope will never disappoint. People will fail us. Community, companies, and even circumstances will all fall short to meet the longing in our hearts. Only Jesus is enough to fill our hearts.

Even our own hearts will fail us, but Jesus will never fail us!

Four years ago my husband and I brought home our adoptive daughter from China. We had been away from our other children for two weeks and were worn from travel. I wept as I hugged my sweet children. We call that day family day.

That day four years ago I wore a shirt that said “faithful.” With all of my heart I wanted God to be faithful. At the moment, I didn’t feel like He was faithful. Our future with our adoptive daughter was unknown. She was scared, withdrawn, sick, and malnourished. A long path of medical unknowns, therapy, and no answer waited for us.

The hope I held onto (each day) was the fact that I knew God to be FAITHFUL. The choose to believe was enough fuel to have hope each day.

One day at a time I choose hope. You can choose hope, too.

The hope we have is not based on circumstances, people, or even our own choices – hope can be found in Christ alone. What a comfort this is to our lonely and hurting hearts! God is faithful and will not disappoint.

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Here are four ways to choose hope today:

1. Go outside.

Simply step out of your house or workplace and breathe in the air. You are alive and giving thanks for this simple thing will spark hope in your heart! The fresh air will do amazing things physically and emotionally for you.

2. Read one Bible verse on hope.

Below you will find a link to a list of my 40 Days of Hope Bible reading plan. Just reading one verse a day allows God to speak to you with the truth of His word. The power of the word of God will bring hope back to your heart.

3. Say a prayer for someone else.

You might know someone else who is suffering – can you pray for them? Looking outside ourselves allows hope to grow in our own hearts. Send a text message or email or write a note and stick it in the mail to remind that person to have hope.

4. Remember God is still working your heart.

You have all you need in Christ. Rest and be secure in this truth. Reading God’s word, praying, and serving others will lift our eyes away from our heartache and onto God’s purpose for our life. Don’t give way to the darkness - God is still working on you!

Quick Reference Bible Verses About Hope

Psalm 25:5 - Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 31:24 - Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

Psalm 33:18: But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.

Psalm 62:5: Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.

Isaiah 40:31: 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.

Romans 12:12: Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Ephesians 1:18: I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.

Colossians 1:5: The faith and love that spring from the hope stirred up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel.

Titus 3:7: So that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Sarah Frazer is a Bible study mentor who shares tools and encouragement for the busy woman desiring a deeper relationship with Christ at sarahefrazer.com. She is the mother of five and a wife to a busy doctor. Sarah loves to encourage women to get into the word, even one verse at a time. Download her free 40 Days of Hope Bible Reading Plan here!

This article is part of our larger Spiritual Life resource meant to answer your questions about the Bible, God and the Christian faith. Visit our most popular questions on “What does the Bible say about…” questions answered by well known Christians and theologians to find more inspiration. Remember that as you read these articles, the Holy Spirit will give you understanding and discernment to make the right decision for your walk with Jesus Christ! If you know others struggling with these faith questions, please share and help others discover the truth on these controversial topics.

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