We live as individuals but share in the human experience. This post series asks the core questions of what, why, and how about this shared experience. After all, God came to earth as a human himself, to share that experience with us and bring us salvation through that human experience. So, join us today as we explore the core question… why do we hope?
Hope is necessary for survival
If you look back at what is hope you will see that hope is expecting that which we desire, and the biblical certainty that God is faithful and will fulfill all of these good longings. How dismal and depressing life would be without hope!
Hope is our survival raft in a broken world. We could not survive our suffering, handle injustice and pain, or respond to confusion and disappointment without hope. We see brokenness in people, relationships, nature, and in our own hearts, but we also see the hope of the gospel of Jesus.
Think about one of the most famous verses in Scripture: “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Romans 3:23
This is true – and depressing.
But the next verse gives us the hope to keep going: “…and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:24
Hope is more than simply distraction
Yes, we could distract ourselves from the pain of this world by focusing our eyes and thoughts on beautiful things: flowers, love, laughing children, music, sunsets. But hope is much deeper. We can not only enjoy those beautiful moments, but confidently expect that God will make all things right.
Right at the beginning of Romans 5, the writer Paul reminds us that suffering, perseverance, and character produce hope in us.
“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” Romans 5:5-11
Why do we hope? Because Christ has died for us, justified us, saved us, and reconciled us to God. We can boast in God through Jesus, and can expect every good thing He has promised. This is hope!
Our counseling center is called “iHope” because we believe that the healing and change we all need is to more deeply place our HOPE in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Look back at what is hope
Coming soon… How to hope well