In the English language, “hope” is kind of a fuzzy word. It describes a wish or desire that something will happen or turn out a certain way. We might hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow, but tomorrow brings a downpour. In our language, hope has no guarantees.

In Scripture, “hope” is different. It designates a certainty, a definite. It pronounces a trust that what has been promised will come to pass. As believers, we have an eternal hope. That doesn’t mean we are optimistically dependent on everything working out well so we can spend eternity in heaven. The believer’s hope is a certain confidence based on Jesus’s work; our eternity is with the Lord. Here’s how David describes our hope in Psalm 31.

Psalm 31:24
So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!

All you who have certain confidence that God loves you, that he sent his Son to pay the penalty of your sin, that the work of Jesus on the cross places you in a relationship with God, that the Holy Spirit lives within you to give you the strength you need to do what God has called you to do … demonstrate your confidence to the world. Be strong and courageous!

Father, thank you for the certainty of your person, presence, and power in our lives. Help us demonstrate to a watching world that our certain confidence is in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Additional Resources

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