Life is hard. No matter who you are, what situation you were born into, or whatever path you take, there will be trials and tribulations throughout it. That may sound pessimistic, but it’s actually quite the opposite. Understanding the reality of life will make us better equipped to handle it. But even with this understanding, when challenges arrive it can still be daunting. Which is why the Bible stresses the importance of hope.
Hope truly is at the root of happiness. You can have all the money in the world, nice cars, vacation homes, and plenty of other material items, but without hope what good are those things? Can these things provide temporary excitement or joy, almost like a vacation? Sure. But these things alone are nowhere near enough to satisfy. Hope brings an internal feeling of positive anticipation and excitement regardless of what material items, jobs, or other circumstances one faces.
Jeremiah Chapter 29 Verse 11:
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Romans Chapter 15 Verse 13:
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Romans Chapter 12 Verse 12:
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
The Bible was divinely written, and God is all-knowing. He knows every single detail about you, life, and the future. He knows the exact number of hairs on every person’s head. And when these verses were written, he already foresaw every challenge everybody would ever face, and yet these promises were still made.
Jeremiah 29:11 does not just say he knows the plans he has for you; it says he knows the plans to give you a future and HOPE. This means when you are suffering, understand that there is hope waiting for you on the other end of it.
Romans 15:13 tells us to abound in hope. That means that hope should not only be present when things are looking positive but always. To abound in it means to always have a deep-rooted hope which will not only make the challenging times less so but also shorter lived since we have an understanding that it is only temporary. Which leads to Romans 12:12.
Rejoice in hope! Be glad that we have hope to fuel us throughout life. When we face dark times, do not despair and think all is lost, instead be patient. And the way to be patient, which is much easier said than done, is to be in a state of constant prayer so that no challenge ever feels too much to conquer or overcome. The hope promised by God in the Bible was not written with any caveats, it is promised to everyone. The more people are aware of this promise, the happier they will be.
