Question 1

What is the source of my hope?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 39:7So, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.Psalm 71:5O Lord, you alone are my hope. I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood.God himself is our source of greatest hope. When we trust him with our present and our future, hope begins to grow.1 Peter 1:21Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.The Resurrection, the greatest event in history, is the foundation of our hope. Our hope of spending eternity with God should impact how we live each day.John 16:33“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”2 Corinthians 4:16-18That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.1 Peter 1:3-6All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.Just as focusing on a fixed point in the distance helps us travel in a straighter line, we can fix our eyes on the eternity, where we will live with Jesus forever, free of pain, sorrow, or suffering. As we move straight toward our eternal goal, our hope for eternity makes us better able to endure the challenges and discomforts of daily life.

Question 2

Why should I trust God as my hope?

Accepted Answer

Hebrews 6:18-19God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.Hebrews 10:23Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.1 Peter 1:21Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.God cannot lie because he is truth; therefore, God cannot break his promises, and his Word stands forever. God can be trusted for our hope because he alone conquered death by raising Christ from the dead. Our hope is that we will be raised as Christ was, to live eternally with God.

Question 3

How can I cultivate stronger hope?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 119:43, 74, 81, 114, 147Do not snatch your word of truth from me, for your regulations are my only hope. . . . May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in your word. . . . I am worn out waiting for your rescue, but I have put my hope in your word. . . . You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope. . . . I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.Romans 15:4Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.Each day we can read God’s Word and have our hope renewed and reinforced.Hebrews 11:1Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.Faith gives us assurance in our hope. Growing our faith will grow our hope as well. Because we trust God’s character and his power, we can trust his promises and the hope they bring.1 Corinthians 13:12-13Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.1 John 4:18Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.When we love God and embrace his love for us, we learn to trust him and grow more confident in our hope. Our love for God also increases the joy of our hope because we desire eternity with him all the more.Ephesians 3:20Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.In a sense, most people hope too little in God and expect too little from him. When we remind ourselves of the amazing things God has already done, we will know that we have reason to believe that the sovereign Lord of the universe wants to bless us more abundantly than we can imagine.

Question 4

In what ways does hope help me live better today?

Accepted Answer

Philippians 3:13-14No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.Hope focuses on our future, especially our eternal future. It gives us the motivation and energy to press on in our daily tasks.1 John 3:3All who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.Hope is the motivating factor to help us resist temptation and keep our lives pure before God.

Question 5

What can I do when life seems hopeless?

Accepted Answer

1 Samuel 1:10Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord.Esther 4:1-3When Mordecai learned about all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on burlap and ashes, and went out into the city, crying with a loud and bitter wail. He went as far as the gate of the palace, for no one was allowed to enter the palace gate while wearing clothes of mourning. And as news of the king’s decree reached all the provinces, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and wailed, and many people lay in burlap and ashes.Isaiah 38:13About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.’” When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, “Remember, O Lord, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly.James 5:13Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray.When life seems hopeless, we can pray. In their hopelessness, Hannah, Mordecai, Esther, and Hezekiah each prayed to God, knowing that if any hope were to be found, it would be found in him.Acts 16:24-25So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.When life seems hopeless, we can worship. Paul and Silas were on death row for preaching about Jesus, yet in this hopeless situation, they sang praises to God. Why? Because they had an eternal perspective.Proverbs 10:28The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing.When life seems hopeless we can focus on eternity. No matter how hopeless things seem here on earth, in Jesus we have ultimate, eternal hope. People who don’t know Jesus Christ have nothing but a hopeless view of what happens after death. But those who know Jesus have been promised a joyful eternal future.Philippians 1:23-25I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith.Focusing on our eternal hope does not mean waiting to die. As much as we may long for heaven, we have a purpose here on this earth—one that impacts others’ lives and eternities.Psalm 27:14Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.When life seems hopeless, we can trust in God’s perfect timing. Patience is an important part of hope.Haggai 1:9“You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses.”When life seems hopeless, we can persevere in putting God first. When we follow where he leads, we know we will be going in the right direction.Psalm 18:4-6The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me. The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path. But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.Psalm 27:1The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?When life seems hopeless, we should not let fear stifle our hope! Sin and evil may sometimes thwart our plans here on earth, but they cannot affect God’s plans for us in eternity!

Question 6

How can I have hope when times are tough?

Accepted Answer

Hebrews 4:14-16So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.Hebrews 10:23Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.When everything seems to be falling apart, we should cling to the fact that God keeps his Word. Our hope is rooted in God’s integrity and faithfulness.John 14:1“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.”John 16:33“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”Our troubles do not surprise God and should not surprise us. Trouble is a fact of life in this fallen world. Jesus experienced all our troubles and shows us how to have peace in spite of them.Psalm 130:7O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love. His redemption overflows.Psalm 146:5-10Joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God. He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever. He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The Lord frees the prisoners. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down. The Lord loves the godly. The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked. The Lord will reign forever. He will be your God, O Jerusalem, throughout the generations. Praise the Lord!Isaiah 26:3-4You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.Our hope is rooted in the wonderful acts of God in creation and history. The Bible assures us that God is able to deliver us from any hardship and difficult circumstance. He will either deliver us from trouble or guide us through it—for his glory and our joy.Psalm 94:19When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.Romans 5:1-5Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.Romans 15:13I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.Troubled times teach endurance. We can endure heavy trials when we are confident of the joy God has planned for us.

Question 7

How can I keep hoping when God never seems to act?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 71:5O Lord, you alone are my hope. I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood.Who but God controls the future? Who but God forgives our sins? Who but God gives us life that lasts forever? Who but God offers us an eternal home? Nothing else can compare to the hope God promises. We need to remember those truths as we are wonder when God will act on our behalf.Romans 8:24We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it.)Hope, by definition, is expecting something that has not yet occurred. Once hope is fulfilled, it isn’t hope anymore. Thus, an important part of hope is waiting patiently for God to work.Hebrews 11:1Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.Our hopes are not idle hopes. They are built on the solid foundation of God’s trustworthiness. Faith isn’t blind. We have ample evidence of God’s trustworthiness and goodness to his people—this is the basis for our faith and hope.

Question 8

How is hope involved in God’s plan for me?

Accepted Answer

Jeremiah 29:11“I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”Jeremiah is often called “the weeping prophet.” He prophesied during a painful time when God was punishing Israel for their unfaithfulness. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took many Israelites into exile and even looted the Lord’s temple. In the midst of this, Jeremiah prophesied that the remaining Israelites, still unrepentant, would be exiled for 70 years. During these terrible times and with more sorrows on the horizon, Jeremiah prophesied these words of hope. After 70 years, Israel did return to the Promised Land—wiser, humbler, and more faithful than before. Too often, we doubt God’s care. We are tempted to think he is neglecting or forgetting us. But God, our loving Shepherd, will always guide us through the dark valleys and lead us to good pastures in the end.Philippians 3:13-14No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.God never plans to leave his people without hope. His ultimate plan is to give us eternal life with him in heaven, where pain, sorrow, and suffering are gone forever. Hope involves an understanding of the future. Even here on earth, God delights in blessing and caring for us, not hurting us. When we follow his plans for us, we can look forward to our future with joyful anticipation.Romans 12:12Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.Our greatest hope is that we will live in heaven forever with the Lord. In the meantime, he put each person on this earth for a purpose. To fulfill that purpose, we must prayerfully listen for his direction and follow where he leads.