Hope Revisited

On a shelf above the window in my dining room is a gold glitter word.  It stands about five inches tall.  The word is HOPE.

In this strange world we live in right now we “hope” that we won’t get the Coronavirus.  We “hope” that our family members and friends won’t get the virus.  We “hope” that this strange self-isolation won’t last long.  We “hope” we will still have a job. We “hope” we will have enough hand sanitizer and toilet paper.  We “hope” there will be enough respirators, masks, medical equipment for those who need them.  Could this quarantine last longer than this month?  Will the economy recover?  What will the new normal look like after the pandemic has run its course?  The list of “hopes” could continue forever. But that “hope” is very uncertain.  We don’t know how that hope will play out.

That word on my shelf represents a far different hope.  This week I have been tracing the Biblical hope through Scripture and I am much encouraged.  The Biblical definition of hope is “confident expectation of what God has promised and its strength is in His faithfulness.”  What a different view of hope!

Hebrews 6:19, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast.”

Psalm 42:5, “Why are you in despair, O my soul?  And why have you been disturbed within me?  Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, for the help of His presence.”

Psalm 62:5, “My soul, wait in silence for God only.  For my hope is from Him.”

Psalm 71:5, “For you are my hope, O Lord God.  You are my confidence from my youth.”

Psalm 71:14, “But as for me, I will hope continually and will praise You yet more and more.”

Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

II Corinthians 1:10, “We have set our hope on Him, and He will yet deliver us.”

I Timothy 4:10, “We have fixed our hope on the living God.”

Romans 15:13, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

I Timothy 1:1, “Christ Jesus is our hope.”

I will end with this line from the hymn, The Solid Rock.  “ My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”  I do not fear this pandemic.  My hope is in Jesus Christ.

Faith Himes Lamb