Hope is a fundamental human emotion that cannot be eliminated, and it is a key component of the Christian faith. As the Bible teaches, hope is one of the theological virtues, and it is meant to be a continuous looking forward to the eternal world (1 Corinthians 13:13). This means that hope is not a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but rather a natural response to the Christian's faith in Jesus Christ. When we put our trust in God, we can find hope in the darkest of times, not because we are avoiding reality, but because we have a confident expectation that God will work all things out for our good (Romans 8:28).
This hope is not just a passive expectation, but an active trust that God is sovereign over all creation and is working to bring about His good purposes in our lives. As the Bible teaches, hope is a protest of the divine presence in the midst of suffering, and it finds its comfort in Christ (Psalm 119:49). This means that hope is not just a feeling, but a choice that we make every day to trust in God's goodness and faithfulness. When we choose to hope in God, we are not ignoring the difficulties of life, but rather, we are facing them with courage and confidence, knowing that God is with us and will see us through.
In the darkest of times, it can be tempting to give up hope, but as the Bible teaches, hope is a skill that develops over time, and it is a corporate venture that needs the reminders of the body of Christ (Hebrews 10:24-25). This means that we need to be surrounded by people who will encourage and support us in our faith, and who will remind us of the hope that we have in Christ. By praying for eyes to see the hope that God has for us, and by committing ourselves to a church community where the story of God's hope is told, we can cultivate a deeper sense of hope in our lives, even in the darkest of times. As the Bible teaches, hope is not a luxury, but a necessity, and it is a gift that we can receive from God through faith in Jesus Christ.