word of the day
Hope is an important word for Christians. In fact, these values are deeply ingrained in nearly everything we do as followers of Christ, in mission organizations and the church as a whole, and in all our faith-based efforts to serve those experiencing heartbreak, grief, loss, and trauma. In an increasingly complex, often unpredictable and chaotic world, the theme of hope today receives considerable attention, not only among spiritually inclined people, but also among the general public and the media.
Just last month, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in collaboration with Harris Poll, released the first national survey of how American adults understand, experience, and live out hope. In fact, 90% of the 2,500 people surveyed said they couldn’t imagine an existence without hope, viewing the term not as an abstract concept but as something directly related to concrete actions and authentic relationships. Generosity in words and deeds becomes personal, strengthens, and inspires hope even in the midst of tragedy and heartbreaking moments.
essential hope
Although I’m not an expert on faith, Dr. CR Synder, a prominent psychologist at the University of Kansas, pioneered the widely accepted theory of hope nearly 30 years ago as an interface between goals (a motivating purpose that provides direction), a sense of agency (defined as willpower – the belief that you can move toward your goal), and a necessary path (defined as the power of method – the belief that you can find your way there). For him, it was primarily a cognitive process.
Another groundbreaking study recently conducted at the University of Missouri called into question this long-held assumption. Researchers concluded that hope is more essential to happiness than happiness or gratitude. Hope is directly correlated as a powerful emotional force that gives meaning and purpose to our lives, and because it uniquely supports the notion that everything in life matters.
What we do know is that hope-oriented interventions, especially those that are explicitly spiritual, make a difference when it comes to mental health. A systematic review of more than 35 studies on hope showed that hope is a good predictor of recovery, an important resilience mechanism, and a protective psychological factor that leads to reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety, and hopelessness.
New research moves beyond individual responses to explore themes such as groups and social hope. This is a place where entire communities can not only be sustained and healed during and after a crisis, but also experience some degree of post-traumatic growth. In times of tragedy, war, acts of violence, and natural disasters, there are many stories that demonstrate the possibility of “collective” hope.
What about Biblical hope?
For some, hope is a cognitive concept. For others, it is more of an emotional response or community experience. So, is there a difference between secular or cultural hope and Biblical hope? Among most Christians, the answer would be a resounding “yes.” Because it is rooted in God’s promises and God’s Word. There are over 180 verses that mention hope, depending on which version of the Bible is referenced. This is the central theme from God’s heart to our hearts.
Hope transcends the limits of the mind and heart and reaches into the realm of faith. The Bible affirms this truth. “All that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through the patience taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement it gives us, we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).
Hope and faith are close and enduring companions, supporting, nurturing, and even sustaining each other through the same Creator who first breathed life into man. The writer of Hebrews explains this relationship: “Faith is confidence in things we hope for and confidence in things we do not see” (11:1). And while the apostle Paul recognized the eternal nature of love, perhaps as the very essence that defines God himself, he also affirmed that hope and faith are directly connected to this sacred triangle. “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).
give life to hope
In Paul’s discourse on the reality of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15, he says, “If Christ has not been raised, then (our) faith is in vain,” and that “if we have hope in Christ only by this life, we are most to be pitied of all” (vv. 17, 19). Thankfully, he goes on to declare, “But Christ has indeed risen from the dead” (verse 20).
This gives us hope, the hope that we will not be forever bound by the loss, pain, struggle, and trials on this side of eternity. In the meantime, God gives us promises to keep.
Here at Hope for the Heart, hope has always been at the heart of our mission. When we talk about hope, it is important to distinguish between optimistic aspiration, which is cultural hope, and optimistic assurance and support against life’s many storms, which is biblical hope. It comes from the Greek word elpis, meaning favorable and confident expectations for the future.
Because life’s challenges can sometimes be overwhelming and shake us to our core, we once again see the intertwining of faith, love, and hope in the commandment to “be ready” for whatever comes. “For we belong to that day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate (which protects our hearts and feelings) and the hope of salvation as a helmet (which protects our thoughts and confidence)” (1 Thessalonians 5:8).
What is your story of hope?
No doubt we all have our own stories to tell, stories where we have had to endure the unthinkable. As I’m about to celebrate my 46th wedding anniversary, I remember a time before when my wife and I suffered four miscarriages, including two stillbirths. It was a tumultuous season in life, one that tested both our faith and our hope in a loving and sovereign God. There were moments when I didn’t have any hope that we would ever start a family. Now, 40 years later, remarkable testimony from her adopted twin sons and four grandchildren is helping to shed more light on this story.
Still, I have great confidence that my wife and I will one day be so excited to welcome children we never knew existed in our lives. For me, Revelation 21:1-5 is one of the most hopeful verses in the Bible. God says that He will wipe away all the tears because there will be no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain. He said to John, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
I believe God means what He says and I have hope for this future. Is this the same hope you have today?
Photo credit: ©Getty Images /Vernon Wiley
Dr. Eric Scalise is President and Chief Strategy Officer of Hope for the Heart, a beloved Christian ministry for 40 years that connects hurting people to the hope of Christ.
Hope for the Heart is a global biblical counseling, life coaching, and care ministry founded by June Hunt in 1986 to provide Biblical hope and practical help. Dedicated to helping people understand and apply God’s Word to their lives, this ministry offers Bible resources on over 100 real-world issues. The hope of the heart makes God’s truth accessible to millions of people seeking guidance.
Learn more and listen to the HopeTalks podcast at HopefortheHeart.org.
