Why We Need Hope

The Bible teaches that hope is something every Christian needs. Why does God place so much emphasis on hope, and what does it do for a Christian?

In our society, the word hope is often used to refer to something we wish to have or happen. But there is much more to it than that. Hope is very important and is actually listed by the apostle Paul as one of the three most important character traits of Christians (1 Corinthians 13:13).

What is true hope? What should we hope for? How is hope a part of our Christian life? How does it aid in our salvation? Hope comes to pass from perseverance based upon the promises of God building godly character to push us through to our final destination, the Kingdom of God.

Hope: an answer for discouragement

Hope is an essential part of a Christian’s life. Losing hope can be very dangerous and often happens when one becomes overly discouraged. Sometimes we get discouraged because of things others have done, things we have done to ourselves or a combination of a number of negative factors.

Discouragement is such a great danger because “anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad” (Proverbs 12:25). How can we avoid the anxiety in life that leads to depression? Hope!

Hope is what keeps a Christian in a positive frame of mind. God wants us to be happy and content (John 10:10; 1 Timothy 6:6)—which helps us understand why He places such a high emphasis on hope. Jesus Christ instructs us not to worry about the physical things of the world (Matthew 6:19-34). Hope is one way that we can overcome focusing on worldly things that can lead to depression and discouragement.

Let’s look at two major areas of hope we need in our lives.

Hope in God

People often get discouraged because when they focus on the physical they are let down. Our hope should be based upon our confidence in God and His power! “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4). We should base our hope on the promises of God because He knows all about our situation. He cares for us and is committed to our well-being. We can be confident in the fact that God is faithful to His promises and in His love toward us. If our hope is in God, then it becomes something that is certain. It is concrete.

Notice how God is described by the prophet Isaiah: “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength” (Isaiah 40:28-29). That is the God we can have hope and confidence in!

Hope for salvation

God’s Word promises an amazing future for those who are faithful to God. He reveals we can live forever as eternal beings in His family—living at Christ’s level of existence (1 John 3:1-2). The hope of the future that God has given us is meant to be a factor that drives us forward to live His way of life (2 Peter 3:11) and overcome sin: “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3). Understanding our future helps us to put life into proper perspective and gives us the right goal to strive to achieve.

This is why Christ instructs us to “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33)!

So what do you hope for? Is it temporary and unreliable? Or do you have a real trust in God to provide all your needs and bring about His awesome plan of salvation for all mankind?

To review the hope God has set before us, read the articles “What Is the Meaning of Life?” “Purpose of Life” and “Children of God.”