***All verses are from the New King James Version unless noted***
In a world filled with uncertainty, hope is a vital lifeline that keeps us pushing forward. But what is hope, really? Is it wishful thinking, or is there something more to it? In this blog post, we’ll look at the difference between a secular based hope and a biblical based hope. We will consider why hope is so essential in today’s turbulent times. Along the way, we’ll look at some key Scripture that reminds us of God’s faithfulness and the power of hope to transform our lives.
Hope is described as a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. It is the longing for the specific thing to happen or improve, without necessarily having a solid reason to believe it will. A secular type of hope, as I will call it, is tied to feelings, emotions, and circumstances. As these things change, the scope of one’s hopes and desires will change with them. This type of hope may occasionally give one a temporary boost of positivity. This is often short-lived and not grounded in anything reliable or solid.
A biblical type of hope, on the other hand, is a deep-seated conviction that comes from our faith and trust in God. It is a confident expectation that God’s Word is true and He will fulfill His promises. Unlike ‘secular’ hope, which is based on wishful thinking, ‘biblical’ hope is grounded in a firm belief in God’s faithfulness.
As I stated before, with a secular hope, the hopes change as feelings and circumstances change. With a biblical hope, the core hopes that Christians have-God’s love (1 John 4:16), forgiveness of sins (1 John 1:9), eternal life (John 3:16), God providing for our needs (Philippians 4:19), working all things out for our good (Romans 8:28), etc. do not change. The feelings and circumstances surrounding the hopes may change as our faith gets stronger, but the hopes don’t change.
As we walk with God, pray, meditate, and believe His Word, our feelings and emotions deepen and change over time. We feel differently-stronger-about God and His promises. We love Him more-trust Him more. As our faith and understanding of God’s character grows, our trust in Him and our sense of hope become stronger and clearer. In that way, our spiritual growth can improve our circumstances from within, even if the external conditions remain unchanged.
The world, especially now days, can be a scary place. It makes sense to be afraid. There are so many things that are out of our control. But God is with us in times of fear and uncertainty. We can find true hope in God and His Word, even when the world seems to offer none. He is forever faithful and true to His word. God is the reason for our hope because of the promises He has made to us.
One verse that has really spoken to me is Hebrews 6:19. It says “this hope we have is an anchor of the soul, both secure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil.”
”This hope we have…” refers to the assured promise of salvation, an inheritance in heaven, and eternal life. Which is guaranteed by God’s promise and His unchanging character. This is not a ‘secular’ type hope-a mere wish, but a confident expectation and certainty rooted in God’s faithfulness.
It “…is an anchor of the soul….” An anchor is essential for keeping a boat from drifting off course or into danger, so is hope. This hope gives us stability, security, and grounding for our inner life (the soul, mind, and emotions). When we are drifting off course or surrounded by fear, doubt, or challenging circumstances, hope holds us in place and keeps us from danger.
This anchor of hope is “…both sure and steadfast…”, meaning it is reliable; it won’t slip, snap, or fail. This emphasizes the unbreakable nature of God’s promises. God is faithful and true-it is His nature and He cannot be any other way.
The entering “…the Presence behind the veil” tells us that through our faith in Jesus Christ, we are now able to enter into God’s presence directly. God is no longer behind a curtain and we no longer need a high priest or animal sacrifice to talk to Him. Jesus tore the ‘curtain’ by His death and resurrection. This act, not only saved us from an eternity separate from God, but gives us unrestricted access to God’s presence at any time.
This hope being an anchor to our soul expresses the importance of having hope. Our soul is our whole being. It’s the essence of who we are and gives life to our bodies. It is the part that connects us to God and lives on after our physical bodies die. It is eternal.
If hope is the anchor that firmly holds something that important, it must be vital to our very existence. Without hope, our souls would be drifting, searching for something to hold on to in the middle of the storms of life. With hope in Christ and a lifeline that keeps us connected to God, our souls are securely anchored. This gives us the confidence and peace to get through any challenges and lights our way forward, shining on the path to eternal life.
The Bible is overflowing with verses that inspire hope, urge us to have hope, and even command it as a guiding principle. Let’s take a look at a selection of passages and see which ones might speak to you and provide inspiration in your own journey.
Psalm 31:24 Tells us to have courage because God will give strength to the hearts of those who have hope in and wait on Him. Hope fuels courage. When we have hope in God’s goodness and faithfulness, it gives us courage to face the fears and uncertainties in our life. Courage requires hope. It takes hope to believe our struggles are not in vain and that God will work everything out. Hope is also needed to wait on the Lord. It helps us keep going on, knowing that God’s timing is perfect and that His plan is greater than our own.
Proverbs 10:28 Says that “the hope of the righteous will be gladness, but the expectation (hope) of the wicked will perish.” This verse means that those who align their lives with God’s will can trust that their hopes will lead to joy and fulfillment. Conversely, the hopes of the wicked will ultimately lead to destruction, because they are based on selfish desires and a lack of faith. This verse reminds us that the things we put our hope and trust in have a profound impact on our lives.
Isaiah 40:31 (NIV) This verse says that you will have renewed strength if you hope in the Lord. You will soar like eagles; run and not get tired; walk and not faint. Here, Isaiah is encouraging people to wait on God and trust in His faithfulness. When you are just “over it” and at your wits end, you can experience transformation. God’s power will replace your exhaustion and weakness. This allows you to rise above the difficulties like eagles soaring on the wind.
Jeramiah 29:11 Here God is telling us that He knows the plans He has for us. Those plans are to succeed and not hurt; to give us hope and a good future. God knew His will for us before He made us in our mother’s womb. God does not harm or hurt. He only wants the best for us.
Ephesians 4:4 This verse says that we are called to one hope. There is just one body, one Spirit, and one hope. This one hope is the hope that all believers have in Jesus Christ. It is the belief that through faith in Christ, we are reconciled to God, forgiven of our sins, and promised eternal life.
1 Timothy 6:17 (NIV) COMMANDS us not to put our hope in things of this world but to put our hope in God, who abundantly provides us with all things.
In conclusion, hope is not wishful thinking. It is a powerful force that can help us get through even the darkest of times with resilience and grace. By understanding the difference between ‘secular’ and ‘biblical’ types of hope, we can dig deeper into the source of strength and purpose that comes from placing our trust in God. When we do, our desires and expectations become rooted in God’s Word and promises. This provides us with a clear roadmap to navigate even the most challenging paths. It’s knowing that no matter what happens, God is in control and will ultimately fulfill His promises to us.
As we face the challenges of today’s world, let’s hold on to the promises of Scripture and the assurance that God is faithful. May we all find inspiration in the words of Hebrews 6:19 and other passages that remind us to ‘hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful’ (Hebrews 10:23)(NIV).
Personal Reflection
To be honest, I’ve never really had too much to hope for in my life. The life I lived, mostly because of the choices I had made, didn’t have much room for hope. My choices generally left my life in shambles. There was always pain, guilt, and regret. Unfortunately, my choices didn’t just affect me. I seriously hurt a lot of people who, at one point, loved me. I became, what I felt, was unlovable-a wrecking ball in my life and the lives of others. Truly, there was no hope for anything positive in my life.
Raised in church, I knew about God and Jesus. I knew that Jesus died for my sins and rose again. I’m not sure why, that stuff didn’t matter much throughout my life the way it matters now. It took me 53 long years to finally heed God’s call for good. I had tried, with minimal effort, to come back to God throughout my life. I’d go to church once in awhile. No matter what I did, I guess I thought I wasn’t getting what I needed to get. This last time was different. God was telling me that I was done doing it my way. It was high time I started doing it the right way.
After I re-dedicated my life to God and believed in Christ as my Lord and Savior, I knew it really meant something. It was different, like a weight had been lifted off of me. I started doing Bible studies and getting into God’s Word. Became excited to get up every morning. The verses and stories came alive and had meaning. Things started to change in my life. They were slow, small changes, but they were good. I cleaned up my mouth and started working on my attitude. My husband eventually commented that I was not the same person. Asking him if the changes were bad, he said no. I slowly started to trust in God and the promises He’s made to all of us. With that trust came belief. Belief that I had truly been forgiven for the way I had lived my life. That trust and belief turned into hope. I, finally, had something to be hopeful for.
As I began to comprehend what Christ went through on the cross, and that He suffered the way He did for me-I was humbled, and ashamed. But I was feeling hope. Ultimately, I began to grasp and got a small taste of God’s immense love for me. My hope grew. As my faith deepened and I was in the Word often, the more hope I had. When I found Hebrews 6:19 and read about hope being the anchor for my soul, I started to realize how vital this hope was.
Today, I can honestly say that I have hope. Hope in God’s promises and in His faithfulness. Hope for an eternal life spent in the presence of the Father. With that hope has come peace. I never realized how desperately I needed both of them. I have hope every day. That hope has changed my life. I am not the person I once was. I am a new creation and the old has passed away (2 Corinthians 5:17).
There is a transformative power when you have faith in Jesus Christ. It has completely changed who I am at my core. I am not who and what I used to be-no longer defined by the mistakes I’ve made. My old self and habits have been washed away. They have been replaced with a new Christ-centered identity. I am full of hope, joy, and love. These are things I never thought I could or would feel in my life. It is a reminder that with God, we all can have a fresh start. He hasn’t gone anywhere. He is there, with open arms, waiting for you to come home. With God, you can become the best version of yourself. I know it’s cliché, but if He can do it for me, He can do it for anyone. Come home and have the hope that will change your life.