This Christmas season is one filled with the message of hope that is found in Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world! Yet, for many, this time of year is only a magnification of the hopelessness and despair that they feel inside. Whether this hopelessness comes from a loss of a loved one or a commercialized view of Christmas, the Bible has the truth about this matter. Here are five things the Bible says about hope.

 

1. Hope is Never Lost

Sometimes it’s difficult to see hope in a situation. But, the Bible says that true hope is unseen. And if we can be hopeful for one thing, such as our salvation, which is also unseen, then we can be hopeful for other things too. It’s just that simple!

 

“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?” Romans 8:24

 

2. We can be Confident in Hope

We have now understood that hope is unseen. But, if it’s unseen, can we trust it? After all, we can trust the chair we sit in or the mug we pour our coffee into because we can see it. Likewise, there are things that we can trust without seeing. We can trust that our insurance company will cover a certain amount of losses or that baking cookies will leave a wonderful aroma in our kitchen. We are confident in them because these are legal and natural laws. In the same way, although we can’t see it, we can be full of hope. Hope assures us that we can be confident in it because it’s the law of God.

 

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1

 

3. True Hope comes from God

Sometimes we hope for things in which there is no hope. A car can’t bring true hope; it can bring a feeling of contentment and exhilaration, but not real hope. Financial stability can’t bring true hope; it can bring security and a level of ease, but not true hope. A spouse can’t bring true hope because a spouse’s abilities are limited to what he or she can control. True hope comes from the One who created hope: God. True hope comes by trusting God even when circumstances are difficult. One way to know whether you’re trusting God is whether you’re obeying his Word. Trust produces obedience, which produces hope, which results in joy and peace; and that is the power of the Holy Spirit.

“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.” Romans 15:13

 

4. Hope is a Gift

A wonderful result of hope is delivered by the Holy Spirit of God. He gives us the power to hope and that is a demonstration of God’s love for us. Hope given by him works together to give us confidence, joy, peace, power and love. That is a true gift!

“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.” Romans 5:5

 

5. Hope Endures

Hoping in God will never lead us into despair, because He has a plan for all of us who look to Him. He has a future that is full of hope.

“There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” Proverbs 23:18