A Certain Hope
“This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.” Hebrews 6:19 ESV
I was pulling out of the grocery store parking lot when a bumper sticker caught my attention. It read, “I hope everything goes your way today.” A sweet sentiment — a positive well‑wish. But that’s all it was, a wish. A desire for things to go well.
As I drove away, I realized this is how many people view hope evidenced by statements like:
I hope I get the job.
I hope I pass the test.
I hope my health improves.
I hope things get better.
To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with wanting good things to happen. But the truth is, this kind of hope — the “wishing” kind — is not certain at all, nor does it align with what Scripture proclaims.
God Is Hope
Through Scripture we understand that hope is certain because it comes from God and because it is God. Hope is not simply something God has or offers. It’s who He is.
Just as Scripture tells us that God is love (1 John 4:8), and Jesus is our peace (Ephesians 2:14), it also reveals that God is our hope (Romans 15:13). And truly understanding this changes everything for believers.
It means hope isn’t fragile or circumstantial.
It means that no matter what we face, we can be certain that God is with us and therefore, we have hope.
Even so, the question remains: If God is our hope, why do we sometimes feel hopeless?
Misplaced Hope
I believe the number one reason we experience hopelessness is not because we lack hope, but because we’ve misplaced it. When we set our hope on anything other than God, we will eventually be let down. Nothing — not a person, a position, an institution, or our circumstances — is completely trustworthy, unfailing, or certain.
But God is all of these and more.
This is why, when we place our hope in Him, we will never be disappointed (Romans 5:5).
Choosing Hope
Even so, living with hope is a daily choice. We can choose to align our thoughts and words with hopelessness. Or, far better, we can choose, even in hardships, to believe and rehearse the promises of God.
The prophet Jeremiah is a powerful example of someone who made this choice. He lived as a captive during the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem, a season marked by deep suffering and loss. Of that time, he writes:
“The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time…” (Lamentations 3:19–20 NLT)
But he doesn’t stop there. Instead, he chooses to remember God’s steadfast love, faithfulness, and mercies (Lamentations 3:22–23). And this intentional choice toward truth leads him to declare with confidence:
“The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” (Lamentations 3:24)
The fact is nothing in life is certain. But God is. He is a rock, a sure foundation. His flawless character and consistent nature are why we can walk hopefully in every season of life.
This doesn’t mean we won’t face challenges — Jesus was clear about that (John 16:33). But it does mean we can remain hopeful despite them, knowing that God, who is Hope, is with us.
Of this we can always be certain.
So today, let’s spend time in gratitude thanking God, who is our Hope, and for the hope He so generously gives. Let’s commit not to set our hopes on anything or anyone other than Him. And most importantly, let’s remember His past faithfulness so we can declare certain hope over our present circumstances and our future.
Pray
Father God,
Thank You for being the source of my hope, the object of my hope, and the reason I can have hope in every season. When my heart is overwhelmed and my challenges feel great, empower me to remember Your goodness, rehearse Your faithfulness, and declare Your forever‑certain promises over my life.
Amen.
Reflect
What specific promise from God’s Word is fueling your hope in this season of your life?
My friends, your thoughts matter! I’d love to hear from you. Consider sharing your responses in the comment section below!