Hope vs Hope

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What do I mean? Hope vs Hope? I'll get to that soon enough. I promise! But first, there needs to be some groundwork laid by simply mentioning a few things about 'hope'.
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There's a lot that could be said about "hope". Here is a fact that  

may interest you: The word "hope" is the 20th most common word used in the English language! Wow! But that should be no surprise considering a culture that's constantly desiring something to fulfill temporary happiness, and is completely devoid of any real hope.

It's used in a variety of contexts, from expressing optimism about the future to expressing a desire for something. 

The most common ways we use the word "hope" in our vernacular is as such:

• "I hope I get a good grade on my test."
• "I hope you're feeling better soon."
• "We can only hope that it won't rain tomorrow during our outing."
• "I hope that one day we will find a cure for cancer."
• "I hope you have a wonderful day."

Hope does a number of things for us. 

• Hope helps people as a positive mental attitude strategy. 
• Hope helps us cope. 
• Hope helps us connect. 
• Hope helps us to persevere, to press on.
• Hope helps give us a sense of purpose, and direction. 
• Hope helps us to be resilient.

No wonder the word "hope" is used a LOT, in our everyday language, and for good reason! It's essential to the human experience. It gives us the strength to face challenges, the courage to pursue our dreams, and the resilience to overcome adversity.

On the other hand, there are many in the world, right now, who feel or experience, in some way, hopelessness. 

Hopelessness is a symptom of depression. It is the feeling that things will never get better and that there is no point in trying. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) depression is the most common mental disorder in the world. An estimated 280 million suffer from it and it is expected to rise to 350 million by 2030, and I mention that simply because, hopelessness is a significant cause of depression for many.

Now back to the word hope. The title, "Hope vs Hope" suggests that there is a difference between worldly, "everyday hope" and "biblical hope". 

There's nothing wrong with everyday hope but it's extremely important we differentiate between everyday hope and biblical hope. 

Biblical hope is 'NOT the same' as "everyday hope". When we read verses like Romans 12:12, "Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying ". 
OR
Titus 2:13, "...while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed". 
OR
Romans 15:13, "I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit", 

we are not talking about the word "hope " as it used in "everyday language".

A child hopes he will get a bicycle for Christmas but he doesn't know for sure until Christmas arrives.
We "hope" someone's cancer will be extracated. But we don't go to them and say, as a matter of fact, "I'm hoping your cancer will go away, so your are going to be absolutely healed!"

Why? Because we can't be for sure.  We're not sure that we will receive what we desire. That's NOT true of hope in the Bible.

The word translated hope in the Bible can't find it's equivalent in our use of the word "hope" as mentioned in the introduction of this devotional study.

Rather, it means, "confident hope"; "absolute certainty of what we have been promised and expect". 

In our verse Hebrews 6:19 it says, "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." 

An anchor attached to a boat or ship, keeps it from drifting. We have "hope-anchored" souls.

Our souls are made secure, because our expec­tations will absolutely be fulfilled based on God's promises and God cannot lie! (Numbers 23:19) Wow!

Now that's the kind of hope we want. It's the kind of hope we need! It's the kind of hope we don't deserve, but God has so lovingly, unconditionally provided through His own sacrifice and purchased of our salvation. 

Thank God for THAT kind of hope that He has so graciously provided to us. That's why when we lose someone, in this world, Gods Word and Promise to us is that, "...we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope".(1 Thessalonians 4:13).

I do "hope" you will have a wonderful week. I really do! But more importantly, I "hope" you have the true biblical hope, that gives you joy, and gives you peace, that surpasses all understanding, and guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, and which only comes from knowing Jesus as your "great God and Savior".

PRAYER: 
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us REAL hope that is not as the world gives. Rather, you have given us REAL and genuine promises of an absolute confidence and assurance! Thank your for giving the gift of that kind of Hope that only YOU can give to those who have placed their faith in You and Lord and Savior. In Jesus Name, Amen!

Until next time, "Keep, keeping on". (Gal 6:9)

Mark Evans
The Journey Place