Life is full of uncertainties!

It is clearly an undeniable fact that life is full of uncertainties. No one can accurately predict the future. It is quite natural and necessary to make plans for the future. And there is nothing wrong with that; otherwise chaos and confusion could result. 

However, there is absolutely no guarantee that those plans will actually materialize. Why? Because life at its very best can be most uncertain and disappointing. 

The question then is, how do we deal with it. One of the best ways to deal with uncertainty is to have hope. Hope is a strong reality of the Christian life and service for God. And God’s Word has much to say about hope.   

The word hope means having the expectation and desire that a certain thing will take place beyond the present time. Hope always points to the future—never to the past or present. The Bible says, “Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience” (Romans 8:24)

Since the future belongs exclusively to God, the Christian’s hope must also be in God. The Bible says, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God” (Psalm 42:11). Note these words “hope in God.”

Having hope in God is not wishful thinking or a “hope so” feeling. But rather allowing God to remove anxiety, despair or doubt and replace these with having positive faith in Him because He keeps His word and fulfills all His promises. Also to be aware that God will never forsake us.

Hope in God means nothing less than absolute confidence and trust in the God of the Scriptures “who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20). 

The Bible also says, hope is a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul. “We who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain” (Hebrews 6:18,19). 

Hope is an anchor of the soul. Just as an anchor keeps a ship secured and steady in all directions on the water; so does hope provides stability and confidence even in uncertain situations.

The Christian’s hope is the anchor, and our hope enters into the inner place behind the curtain, which means it is secured in God’s immediate presence. Surely this is a wonderful inspiration for the believer in Christ.

It is interesting that at the beginning of his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul made reference to his constant prayer for them and specifically their steadfastness of hope in the Lord. Therefore, hope had to be a significant aspect of those believers’ labors for the Lord.

Paul writes: “We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 1:2,3). 

The Thessalonians’ steadfastness of hope means they were dutifully firm and unwavering in their commitment to Christ that nothing could deter. 

The ‘second advent’ of Christ is an event yet to take place. No one knows the day or the hour. First John 3:2,3 tells us, “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure.”

Here is another futuristic application of the word hope. “Everyone who thus hopes in Christ purifies himself He is pure.” Again we see the significance of hope in the lives of believers in Christ.

Christ is perfectly pure. “In Him there is no sin” (1 John 3:5). The Scripture also states Christ is “holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26). This indeed is about our Redeemer and Savior.