If there’s one of the three theological virtues that the world needs now, it is hope.  Faith, hope, and charity are all intertwined in such a way that truly, none could exist or thrive without the assistance of the other two.  But in this article, we will hone in on hope, because many of us are struggling with despondency or despair.  We live in challenging times, in which despair is evident through acts of suicide, murder, acquiescence to apathy, etc.

As you ponder each verse, find one or more that speak deeply to your soul and that resonate with you and offer you spiritual refreshment.  Be encouraged by the fact that hope and wait are often used interchangeably in Scripture verses, so God may be calling you to hope in a period of waiting right now.

Is. 40:31 – “They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength.”

When you are feeling the weakness of your body and spirit, remember the promise you have in your faith.  If nothing else, your fidelity to God in trying times will lead you to your own resurrection, where you will dwell with Him in eternal glory and everlasting peace.

Rm. 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

At times, loneliness and emotional turmoil cause upheaval within us.  Turn to the God of hope and invoke Him.  He will send you a new spirit of hope through the Holy Spirit, who refreshes and renews you to carry on in faith.

Ps. 31:24 – “Be strong and take heart, all who hope in the Lord.”

There is great strength in maintaining or building hope in our lives.  When in doubt, recall that God Himself is our hope!  He has redeemed us by His precious Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity!  Rejoice in that alone.

Rm. 8:25 – “But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance.”

The hardest thing in life is the incapability of seeing what God is doing with us, especially during times of tribulation and testing.  Hope retains focus on the Light of the World, even in the midst of darkness.  Continue to hope, and you will learn to persevere through anything.

Ps. 130:5 – “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits and I hope for his word.”

When you find yourself in a period of waiting for something or someone and nothing seems to be progressing, remember that waiting itself is your gift – to grow in hope and fidelity to God.  Demonstrate your love for Him by giving more and expecting nothing in return.  He will reward you for your generosity of spirit.

Rm. 5:3-5 – “Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”

We know that the source of hope is from the Holy Spirit.  Is it possible to be proud of our afflictions?  Indeed it is.  If you are afflicted with wounds of holy darkness, be assuaged by the oasis of hope.  Hope in God will never fail you, because He will never fail you.

1 Pt. 3:15 – “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope…”

If we are to be joyful Christians, we must never be afraid to share the good news with others who wonder what the source of our joy is.  Ultimately, our hope is in the resurrection – that of Jesus’ Resurrection, but also our own.  We know that suffering is not the end, so hope leads us to the foot of the Cross without shame or despair.  In the end, we rise again to new heights in our hope.

Col. 1:26-27 – “But now it has been manifested to his holy ones, to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; it is Christ in you, the hope for glory.”

As we draw nearer to Jesus, we also participate and share in His glory.  It may not happen without suffering – in fact, it likely won’t – but don’t allow desolation to discourage you.  Suffering is a gift, and, as St. Teresa of Calcutta said, the more we suffer, the closer we become to Jesus on the Cross, so that He is able to kiss us.  That kiss is also our hope and glory in Him.

Eph. 4:4 – “You were also called to the one hope of your call.”

Part of our journey as Christians is to “walk the talk,” so to speak.  What are you called to do with your gifts and talents?  Pray about God’s call for your life, and when you discover it, your soul will soar with hope!  Hope, then, will lead you to fulfilling your mission.

Micah 7:7 – “I will wait for God my savior; my God will hear me!”

Never doubt that God hears your prayers and answers them in due time.  Even if you are initially met with silence, don’t give up.  He comes to those who seek Him and wait for Him.  Wait, then, in joyful hope.

Lam. 3:24 – “The Lord is my portion, I tell myself, therefore I will hope in him.”

If God becomes everything to us, we grow in the virtue of hope.  For, what else do we truly need in life?  God provides for every detail of our lives, and if we rest in this assurance, we surely remain hopeful.

Ps. 27:14 – “Wait for the Lord, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the Lord!”

Hope sometimes takes courage, or fortitude, in order for it to grow.  We know that hope is also related to interior strength, so waiting for God’s perfect timing in your life just might be the perfect means by which you will exhibit greater courage to overcome adversity.

Jer. 29:11 – “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—oracle of the Lord—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope.”

Our hope is not desolate and devoid of purpose. Even our suffering is meritorious when united to the Cross.  Remember that God has promised you a “future of hope,” which means that, despite the challenges you face today, your future is the fruition of His promise!

1 Cor. 15:19 – “If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are the most pitiable people of all.”

We do not hope in what this world has to offer us.  We know that our true hope is in eternal life with Jesus in Heaven.  Therefore, we shouldn’t put stock in the acquisition of material possessions or temporal happiness, but rather we should store our riches in Heaven.

2 Cor. 4: 16-18 – “Therefore, we are not discouraged; rather, although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal.”

The weight of everlasting glory is effortless and an easy yoke!  Consider your trials, dear soul, to be a “momentary light affliction” in regards to the joy you will enjoy one day in Heaven.  That is the hope to which you should cling when all else fails.

Rm. 12:12 – “Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.”

Hope and joy mingle in our hearts when they are expressed.  As we persevere and endure through whatever God wills for us, hope produces the depth of joy that carries us through that which is to come.

Heb. 11:1 – “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.”

Here is where faith and hope conjoin as virtues.  When obscure faith (blind faith) matures in us, so, too, does hope.  Authentic faith requires that we do not see with the eyes of the body, but rather with the eyes of our soul.  And that is our hope!

1 Cor. 13:13 – “So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

If we strive to grow in holiness through the refinement of faith and hope, we can expect that they will bear charity in our hearts, which is the fulfillment and greatest of all.

Jer. 17:7 – “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord; the Lord will be their trust.”

Hope requires radical confidence in God’s providence, especially when we cannot see Him moving in our lives actively.  Sometimes God chooses to remain hidden, so that we seek Him out of love for Him.  Trust in Him, and your hope will not disappoint.

Ps. 71:14 – “I will always hope in you and add to all your praise.”

How can we increase our hope?  By praising God in the midst of the storms and strife.  If you do this, you will not be disappointed.  He will come to your aid.

Ps. 39:8 – “And now, Lord, for what do I wait? You are my only hope.”

Even when we don’t know why we are waiting or for what we are waiting, we remain rooted in hope.  Cling to the promise you find in these verses and remember that sometimes God strips us of everything peripheral so that He can become “our only hope,” our all in all.

Job 11:18 – “And you shall be secure, because there is hope; you shall look round you and lie down in safety.”

Hope means we are confident in God – in His timing, His providence, and the fulfillment of His promises.  That is our security from spiritual harm.

1 Thess. 1:2-3 – “We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father.”

The “endurance of hope” is a necessary prerequisite for our own resurrection.  What would the Paschal Mystery mean without endurance of hope?  We, too, experience our own Calvarys, so hope must be our beacon and fortress through it all, to the end.

Heb. 6:18b-19 – “Hold fast to the hope that lies before us. This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, which reaches into the interior behind the veil.”

When all else fails, remember that hope is your anchor.  It keeps your soul sure and steady, on a righteous path, and leads you by its light.  Hope is the flame that remains ablaze, even as we undergo intense trials.  It leads us out of darkness and into Light.

What is your favorite biblical quote on hope? Leave a comment!