But as for me, I will always have hope;

I will praise you more and more.

Psalm 71:14

How important is hope? This was a question I asked myself a couple of years ago. Is hope wanting something to happen but not sure if it will or is hope a confidence while we wait? And where should our hope lie? Do we say, “I hope my child will return to the Lord” or “my hope is in the One who never changes; the One who cannot lie: the One who has plans to prosper us and not to harm us?” What does the Bible actually say?

But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.

Psalm 9:18

No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame…

Psalm 25:3

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.

Psalm 62:5

Hope requires waiting. We see this in Psalm 9:18. As I look at different translations, hope is used interchangeably with the words wait and trust. In Psalm 25:3, the NASB uses the word “wait” (none of those who wait for Thee will be disgraced), while the NLT, uses the word “trust” (no one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced). In Psalm 62:5, both the NLT and the NASB use the word “wait” in addition to the word “hope” (Let all that I am wait quietly before God, my hope is in him--NLT and My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him—NASB). A favorite Scripture of mine also incorporates the idea of hope and waiting and dependence

I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore I will hope in him!” The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.

Lamentations 3:24-27

The NIV says, The Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait for him. The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him. Here hope is used interchangeably with the word depend and wait. Lets look at a few Scriptures in the New Testament.

…hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But

if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Romans 8:24-25

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

Hebrew 6:19

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1

In Romans 8:24-25, we see the idea of having hope meaning we wait patiently. Hebrews 6:19 adds the idea of being confident… an anchor that is firm and secure (NIV); an anchor that is strong and trustworthy (NLT); and an anchor that is sure and steadfast (NASB). In verse 17-18, we see what our hope is in the promise and oath of God…of His unchanging nature and purpose, knowing that He will never change His mind concerning His promises. Furthermore, v.11-12 tells us the importance of faith and endurance in receiving what we hope for.

We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.

We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Hebrews 11:11-12

Hebrews 11:1 kind of sums it all up! So we see through all these Scriptures that hope is about waiting and trust; it’s about faith and confidence in God and His promises; it’s about depending on Him for the things we can’t see; and it’s about patience and endurance for as long as it takes. And if we truly have hope, we will praise Him more and more just as David did.

O God, may we always have hope. May it always be in front of us as an anchor for our souls. May we praise You while we wait knowing that Your promises are sure…promises that remind us of Your love for our children and grandchildren (Romans 8:38-39); promises that remind us that You are sovereign and in control (Isaiah 55:9-11); promises that tell is You are good and what You do is good (Psalm 119:68); and promises that assure us that You are always working (John 5:17) and that it is for our good (Romans 8:28; Philippians 1:6; and Philippians 2:13). Thank You, Lord, that we have so much reason to hope. Our hope is in You for You never change! We will always run to You. We will praise You in everything because hope is in front of us!