Hopelessness is the worst feeling a person can experience, for it leaves one without any expectation of relief or improvement. Yet, for those in Christ, hopelessness is never a reality, even amidst fear, loneliness, or desperate situations. Hope, in the biblical sense, is not a mere wish or uncertain optimism, but a strong and confident expectation, a certainty rooted in trust. This hope is the assurance that what God has promised in His Word is true, such as the return of Jesus our Lord to gather us in resurrection and to rule with Him in His Kingdom. Faith serves as the support of this hope, acting as the evidence of what we hold in our hearts and minds. Faith is demonstrated in how we live our lives, showing through our actions that we trust in God's promises. Biblical hope does not lead to escapism or idleness; rather, it propels us into action, changing how we live, what we value, and how we use our talents, time, and resources. It shifts our focus from earthly to heavenly matters, aligning our hearts with where our true treasure lies. Our hope, sourced from God, the God of hope, must be fixed solely on Him, for He alone has the power to fulfill it. This hope, intertwined with faith, transforms who we are and what we do, proving through our lives that we believe in His truth. Hope resides in our hearts as the dream and belief in God's promises of resurrection and a better world, moving us toward action, while faith is the action itself, evidencing our trust in Him.

Faith and hope are foundational to our relationship with God, shaping how we worship and live in deference to Him. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the assurance and evidence of what we do not see, and it is generated through hearing and receiving God's Word. This faith is essential, as it underpins everything developed in our connection with Him, guiding us in salvation, which is an ongoing process sustained by hope. We are being saved in hope, a necessary component that carries us through to the end. Hope evolves as we age, shifting from childhood desires to deeper concerns about life, mortality, and our relationship with God. We hope for peace, for cures to diseases, for safety from disasters, and ultimately for eternal life in God's Kingdom. Yet, for hope to have substance, it must be accompanied by conviction rooted in the reality of God's promises. Without solid evidence from His Word, hopes are mere wishes or daydreams, lacking the power to motivate action toward fulfillment. True faith and hope rest solely on God's Word, providing the only valid foundation for our aspirations concerning Him. If God has not spoken on a matter, there is no basis for belief or hope, only human imagination. Our hope for eternal life depends entirely on His faithfulness in keeping His promises, for His Word is always true. Without faith anchored in what He reveals, it is impossible to please Him, and our worship must be grounded in this faith to be acceptable. Thus, the essence of worship lies in believing and acting on what God has spoken, ensuring that our hopes and actions align with His truth. This faith, derived from His Word, gives us a legitimate basis for hope, motivating us to live in a way that reflects our trust in His sovereignty, providence, and faithfulness.

Amidst the despair and challenges of personal, national, and spiritual life, there shines a blinding ray of hope that cannot be buried under the weight of darker matters. Passover, despite the surrounding gloom, is a time of hope, intertwined hand in glove with the essence of renewal and promise. The heart of this hope is faith in God, a confident and enduring expectation that undergirds all aspirations for the future. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, providing a stable rock to cling to regardless of circumstances, because Christians trust God to fulfill His promises. Hope is deeply relational, rooted in knowing God and believing in Him, which strengthens the trust that fuels a powerful hope for what He has assured. David understood this, declaring his hope in the Lord alone, based on an intimate, lifelong relationship with God, trusting Him to deliver from any predicament. This trust in God's unchanging, righteous character ensures that hope remains, no matter the trial, allowing for joy even in severe adversity because of His eternal nature. The patience of hope is centered in Jesus Christ, through whom believers know the Father and trust in the promises modeled by His life, death, and resurrection. As the Forerunner, He assures that what happened to Him will happen to His followers, fostering a confident expectation of resurrection and eternal life. In the context of Passover, this hope is vividly illustrated through Abraham's trust in God's provision during the test with Isaac, knowing God's character would not demand such a sacrifice without a purpose or substitute. Similarly, the children of Israel on the first Passover night exhibited hope based on God's specific promises and past actions, confident in their freedom and future in the Promised Land despite surrounding death and chaos. Even in His final moments, Jesus Christ displayed this hope, facing betrayal and death with a confident expectation of returning to the Father, trusting in God's control and promises. His endurance through trials, with joy and hope, serves as a model for believers to move forward through their own challenges, knowing that beyond them lies the fulfillment of God's promises. This hope, far greater than any temporary despair, calls for strength and pursuit of peace and holiness, with the assurance of coming to a reality far surpassing earthly struggles.