In the journey of faith, hope in God stands as a powerful force, distinct from mere wishing. This hope, especially as seen in the New Testament, carries a confident expectancy, a firm belief in the return of Christ and the establishment of God's Kingdom on earth. As highlighted in Hebrews 6:11-12, we are urged to show diligence to the full assurance of this hope until the end, resisting sluggishness. Further, in Hebrews 6:17-18, we find strong consolation in the immutable nature of God's promise and oath, two unchangeable truths that assure us, as we flee for refuge, to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope is not passive; it requires us to seize it, cling to it, and hold it firmly, as if reaching out to grasp what He offers. It serves as a motivator, keeping us focused and moving forward amidst life's dangers, ensuring we do not give up. Our hope, both from God and in God, drives us toward obedience and faithfulness.

Everyone alive is or soon will become damaged goods, broken by the forces that control and corrupt our environment. Yet, as creations and children of God, we are subjected to our frailties in hope for the repair of our defects and the renewal of our damaged bodies upon our adoption and redemption. The whole creation, including the rocks, vegetation, and animals, shares this same hope for restoration. Our living hope is anchored in Jesus Christ, for because He is alive, we have a sure foundation for our confidence. Having been figuratively raised from the dead at our baptism, we can fully place our hope in Him through our faith, knowing that it is through His efforts that our hope is justified. Our hope is laid up in heaven, and we are admonished to seek those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God. He is both the goal of our hope and the One we depend upon to realize it, fulfilling it through His role as our High Priest. Because God has called us and desires to save us, possessing all the power necessary to bring us into eternal life with Him, we can have a sure hope in the gospel we believe and in the ongoing work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. By faith, we trust that the hope He has given us is true and will be realized in the future, allowing patience to have its place so we do not become discouraged. Our hope remains strong as long as it is solidly based on the works and love of Jesus Christ, who, having suffered for us, now sits at the right hand of God the Father and makes intercessions for us. Faith and hope are like interlocking gears powering our walk with God; our faith strengthens our hope, and our hope is realized by our faith, both having Jesus Christ as their ultimate focus. Godly hope always looks toward a future good, motivating us to strengthen our relationship with God and develop patience and resolve to stand fast in the faith. Because our hope has a prophetic vision within it and is a desire placed in us by God, its object is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ and the work He does. For us, the children of God, along with the earth that groans under the weight of our sins, the hope we have draws closer to its promised fulfillment with each passing day. God teaches us that one day the whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of Him, and we will no longer be broken or damaged. Until that great day, we must remain mindful of our need for God and the abiding hope He provides through the good works of Jesus Christ on our behalf, that we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

We are admonished to hold onto our courage and the hope of which we boast, recognizing that we are His house under Christ's authority. Many falter by placing their hope in the wrong area, losing the motivation to endure the narrow and difficult path. Our hope must be clearly focused, especially in these pressure-packed, turbulent times filled with uncertainty and frustration. Hope, alongside faith and love, forms an essential trinity that we need continuously throughout life. These qualities are the building blocks of a successful, abundant life, supporting us and giving strength to function as God intends. Only the hope that comes from God will work in a balanced way to produce success. This living hope, as described by Peter, is not fleeting but guaranteed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, assuring us that our hope in God is not in vain. Our race is not a short dash but a marathon, and God mercifully provides sufficient time for growth. This hope is our inheritance, imperishable and untainted, reserved for us by God. It is not merely in the promises but in the One who makes them, a powerful Being of utmost integrity who cannot lie. Our hope must be in God, the source and author of it, who saved Israel from slavery, provided for them, and gave them their inheritance. Without Him, there would be no hope. We cannot call ourselves out of spiritual Egypt, forgive ourselves, or give ourselves the Holy Spirit. Everything, including hope, flows from this real, personal Being with whom we must develop a relationship to truly know Him. Eternal life is to know God, and it is His holiness, power, and integrity that make His promises trustworthy. Our hope must be in Him, not merely in the promises, for if we trust only in the promises, we place our hope in the wrong place. Jesus Christ is directly called our hope, being both the Source and Object of our earnest yearning, confident expectation, and patient endurance for salvation. This hope is in the Person, not just in the Kingdom of God or the resurrection, but in the Being who made the promises. It is Christ in us, God in us, that gives certainty for the future, carrying beyond the grave as it did with Christ, allowing His character and virtues to become evident in us. Hope is our anchor, maintaining us steady on the course, especially as perfection and holiness are not yet completed. There remains much to be done, and without hope, the possibility of drifting off course increases immeasurably. Jesus Himself is our hope, and because it is impossible for Him to lie, we can have strong encouragement in this way of life. We are like a ship in a storm, with hope as the rope and anchor, and Christ as the immovable Rock holding us in place. Despite current problems, there is a sure anticipation of good because God's past guarantees the future. His constancy provides assurance as nothing else can, fostering a resolve to face challenges. We walk before the Lord, always in His sight and presence, striving for perfection as He assures us that He will create His image in us. This leads to a far-reaching hope, looking beyond present troubles to being with God in the Kingdom, confident in walking before Him in the land of the living. We must endure through pressure-packed times, remaining steadfast and diligent, not allowing promises like escaping to safety or eternal life to deflect us from where our firm hope needs to be. Our hope is to be in the Person, holy in character and power, who makes the promises worthwhile, and with whom we walk in a humble, submissive, and dependent loving relationship.

Amidst the despair and challenges of life, there is a profound and radiant hope that shines through the darkness. This hope is rooted in a deep relationship with God, a trust that endures through every trial. It is not a fleeting wish, but a confident, enduring expectation that God will fulfill His promises. The heart of this hope is faith in God, a trust that undergirds every aspiration and sustains through every hardship. Knowing God intimately strengthens this hope, for the more we believe in Him, the more invincible our trust becomes. David understood this truth, declaring his hope in the Lord alone. Through a lifetime of relationship with God, facing countless dangers and predicaments, David trusted that God would deliver him, no matter the circumstance. This same hope is echoed in the Psalms, where reliance on God's holy name—His unchanging, righteous character—brings confidence and joy, even in the face of severe trials. We can rejoice, knowing that God's eternal nature ensures deliverance, providing a stable rock to cling to regardless of the storms. This hope is vividly illustrated in the life of Abraham, who, despite the harrowing command to sacrifice his son, held fast to the promise of God. His hope, built on years of experiencing God's faithfulness, assured him that God would provide, whether through a substitute or even raising Isaac from the dead. Similarly, on the first Passover night, the children of Israel exhibited hope based on God's promises and their experiences with Him. They trusted in His detailed instructions and saw His mighty actions on their behalf, leading to freedom and wealth, a foretaste of the joy in the Promised Land. Jesus Christ Himself embodied this hope, even in His darkest hours. Facing betrayal and death, He spoke with confidence of returning to the Father, urging His disciples to rejoice in the greater purpose at hand. Before Pilate, He remained steadfast, knowing God's control over every event and trusting in the promise of resurrection. His hope was justified, as He endured with joy, securing a historic reality that now extends to us as a promise. Where He has gone, we can follow, encouraged to face our trials with the same hope, moving forward with strength and pursuing peace and holiness. Thus, in the midst of life's struggles, we are called to stand firm in this hope. It is not tied to fleeting human efforts or temporary solutions, but to the eternal, unchanging nature of God. We have come to a greater covenant, an awesome promise that surpasses all earthly despair. With such hope, there is no room for despondency, for we trust in the God who has revealed Himself as faithful, holy, and righteous, ensuring that all He has promised will come to pass.