What does hope mean to you? Is it just another word for wishing? Is it deeper and more meaningful than that? What are you hoping for? Do you hope for meaningful relationships? Do you hope for a new job? Do you hope for material possessions?
Hope, as defined on dictionary.com is, “the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.” However, in today’s vernacular, hope is often used to indicate wishful thinking, rather than being something that we can attain or achieve.
When the Apostle Paul spoke of hope, he kept the original meaning. Biblical hope always speaks to believing we will attain something. Paul always speaks of attaining salvation, eternal life with God. Though Paul speaks of hope as something we cannot see and it may seem as though we have not attained it, his meaning is that we have not reached our final destination yet. Our waiting in patience means that we live this life with the anticipation of the eternal life to come.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we should have this hope. If we do not, we need to talk with a pastor or spiritual guide to help us understand the hope we can have. It is having this hope that can carry us through the toughest of times. It can be the difference between being immobile in despair and stepping out in faith. The hope we have includes trust that God is in control and he will work all things to our good, just as he promised.
I pray we all have hope that believes we have salvation. I pray we hold onto the hope of eternal life with God. I pray each one of us hold onto our hope as we go through our toughest times. Hope in your salvation. Hope in eternal life. Trust God is in control. Hold onto your hope.
Romans 8:24-25 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what one already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Marty Pressey 