What Is Your Hope?

What comes to mind when you hear the word "hope"? Generally, hope is defined as a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular outcome. However, in the Biblical context, hope takes on a deeper meaning, as seen in Hebrews 11:1 -  ‘Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.’

A person who places their hope in the Lord will never be put to shame or disappointed. Hope is a confident and strong expectation in the One who never falters. God is faithful and keeps His promises. 

Zechariah 9:12 ‘Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.’

We can choose to be bound by fear and depression, or we can embrace hope and faith. God desires us to be "prisoners of hope." If we are willing to break free from the shackles that hold us down, God will lift us up and build us anew.

There is a secret to becoming a prisoner of hope: we must learn to wait patiently. God does not operate on our timeline but on His own, working according to His perfect will and timing.

There are different types of hope in the world:

1. General Hope - A belief that something may happen someday.
2. Hope Based on Past Experiences - An expectation rooted in previous occurrences.
3. Hope Based on the Promises of God - A hope grounded in the Word of God.
4. Hope Based on Jesus’ Resurrection - The ultimate hope.

Death is the ultimate enemy that cannot be conquered, yet for Christ, this was not the case. He defeated death by dying on the cross and rising again. Because He died and rose, we too have died and risen in Him. Our hope is rooted in Christ’s resurrection.

Summary
Hope is a powerful expectation grounded in faith, particularly in God's promises. It encourages us to choose faith over fear and patiently await His perfect timing.