How Important is Hope?

Besides our gratefulness and appreciation for God's grace, our hope is an essential source of motivation. Here are three reasons to consider.

Hope serves as the anchor of the soul, Hebrews 6:19. It keeps us from being washed away with the onrushing and turbulent waters of life. The hope of heaven most certainly motivated Paul. Each day of his life saw new opportunities to glorify God through persecution and suffering. It was the hope of what awaited him in the life to come that fueled his endurance. I can do all things through him who strengthens me, Philippians 4:13.
In the original language, the wording is "I can endure all things." This reminds us of the strength that Jesus provides and the desire for a permanent home in heaven that empowered Paul to press through the gravest of persecution. Paul's hope was not just simple belief but a powerful force that enabled him to sing praises in jail, Acts 16:25. He and Silas knew their imprisonment was only temporary. Even if they lost their life the next day, they knew a home in heaven awaited.

We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
- 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

Hope gives us something to live for. It becomes our life purpose, mission, and plan of action. The severest reality of misery is when our hope is only in this life, 1 Corinthians 15:19. The hope in this world is fleeting, often leading to disappointment and despair. In contrast, the hope of heaven, the hope in God's promises, brings us joy and life to death. It brightens and lifts our feelings. Life without this eternal hope is, at best, bleak. Those who only have hope in this world are truly most miserable.

Consider Romans 8:18: For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. We possess a salvation in which the greatest part has yet to be revealed. While we can move in thankfulness for our present blessings in Christ, nothing can be compared with the blessings we will experience in the life to come. Later Paul said that we eagerly await our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. While our inner person is renewed daily, we still have our fleshly body to contend with. As we move through life, we grow to await the transformation of our body eagerly. One day we will be made like Him and see Him just as He is, 1 John 3:2. We live in this hope. It was Paul who said, For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? Romans 8:24.

Our hope is in God, not self. Our hope is not in men. Instead, we hope in the unchanging God who always speaks truth. His promises are not empty words but a guarantee of His care, concern, protection, guidance, direction, and sustenance. We can always trust Him for a better tomorrow. He has promised to meet all our earthly needs and gives us the promise of eternal life, Psalm 78:7; Matthew 6:25-34.