Hope is a strong and steady assurance in something or someone.
To hope in Christ is to hold tight to his promises, trusting in who he is, what he has done and the future we have in him.
Hopelessness is the absence of hope. We can fight it by memorizing Scripture, speaking truth, praying, remembering God’s faithfulness and asking for help.
What Is Hope in the Bible?
We hope for the best parking spot. We hope for a good day at work or a good night’s sleep. We hope for healing or for tomorrow to be a better day. But what is hope, anyway? To answer that, we must look to God’s Word.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11, NIV
The Hebrew word used here for “hope” is tiqvah. And this is where things get interesting. This word refers to a cord or rope made of twisted strands that’s used to bind things together or even anchor things to the ground.
This cord is strong, steady and sure — unshakable no matter what tries to pull at it or separate it. Picture this cord as the thing that secures your parachute or anchors your lifeline when you’re climbing a cliff. That’s a picture of hope.
To hope is to have a strong and steady assurance in something (or someone) that won’t break or snap under pressure.
In Jeremiah 29:11, God is telling his people that he gives them hope — or strong and steady assurance — in him and his plans for our future. We can expect his good plans to come to pass and hold tight to them, trusting that he is faithful and his purpose for us is secure despite our circumstances. We can hope in him.
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” — Hebrews 6:19, NIV
Looking for more truth from Scripture? Read more Bible verses about hope.
What Does It Mean to Hope in Christ?
If hope is a strong and steady assurance, like an unbreakable cord, what does it look like to place that kind of hope in Christ?
Jesus is everything we need. He is our Bread of Life. The Living Water. The Light of the World. The Breath of Life. Our Good Shepherd. Because of who he is, his sacrifice on the cross that defeated sin, and his resurrection that defeated death, we all have certain promises we can cling to:
His faithful presence: In Matthew 28:20 (NIV), Jesus promises to be with us, even to the very end of the age. We can trust he’s walking alongside us as we journey through life.
Rest despite trials: In Matthew 11:28 (NIV), Jesus promises to give rest to those who are weary. We can trust that he has peace for us despite any hardship we face.
Fullness of life: In John 10:10 (NIV), Jesus promises that we’ll have fullness of life in him. We can trust that he has purpose and joy for our lives, not emptiness or despair.
Eternal life: In John 11:25 (NIV), Jesus promises that we’ll live eternally when we believe in him. We can trust that though this world brings trouble, we have a bright future that can’t be taken from us.
To hope in Christ means to hold tight to these promises, to trust in who Jesus is, what he has done and the future we have in him. This hope will hold you steady no matter what you face.
Why Is Hope Important and What Happens Without It?
Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. — Psalm 62:5-6, NIV
We all experience hardship, pain, loss and uncertainty. There will be days when God’s plan feels hidden and nights when all we have to pray is “Why?” There may be times when struggles come so hard and fast that we begin to fear nothing will ever change. We may think, “This is all there is.”
Hopelessness creeps in. Without hope, hardship may threaten to devastate us. And dark despair may start to overshadow everything else.
But as followers of Jesus, we’re not left hopeless. Even in the moments of fear, doubt and pain, we have hope in Christ. In him, we have peace, rest, a future and eternal life.
It’s in life’s hardest moments that we understand why hope is so important: It’s the steady and strong assurance that keeps us from being overcome by what we’re walking through. Hope reminds us that Jesus is still present, still good and still faithful, no matter how much we endure.
We’re not left to free fall — we can reach out and grab hold of the hope we have in him.
5 Ways to Fight Hopelessness
Hopelessness doesn’t have to take root in our hearts. We can take simple steps to stand our ground and remember the hope we have in Christ.
1. Memorize the Promises
The best way to remember our hope in Christ is to memorize Scripture, specifically the promises we have in him:
His faithful presence (Matthew 28:20).
Rest and peace in trials (Matthew 11:28).
Fullness of life (John 10:10).
Eternal life (John 11:25).
Take some time to memorize these Bible verses so you always have them hidden in your heart.
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. — Psalm 119:105, NIV
2. Speak Truth
“I can’t do this. Things will never change. This is hopeless.” When the lies of hopelessness come, we must replace them with the truth. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) says, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Speak the Scriptures you memorized. Or search for a relevant Bible verse and read it out loud. For example, when situations feel as if they’ll never get better, recite or read Jeremiah 29:11.
Here are some Bible verse guides you can bookmark for later:
3. Pray Honestly
Philippians 4:6 (NIV) says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” In every situation, no matter what we face, we can bring our pain, our fears and our needs to the heavenly Father.
Pray honestly. Share how you feel. God isn’t afraid of your feelings, needs or desires. Instead, he knows what you need before you even ask for it (Matthew 6:8). And he is faithful to provide for you.
Not sure where to start? Learn how to pray using five simple steps.
4. Remember God’s Faithfulness
We can all think back to times where God has been faithful and seen us through. In moments where hope seems dim, remind your heart of those times. Remind yourself that if he brought you through before, he can and will do it again.
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. — Deuteronomy 7:9, NIV
You can also look to Scripture for stories of God’s faithfulness. For example, read the story of Noah in Genesis 8 and 9. Or read about Daniel in the lion’s den in Daniel 6. The Bible is full of thousands of years of proof of God’s faithfulness to his people.
5. Reach Out for Help
We’re not meant to carry hopelessness alone. God often works through people around us, like friends, family, pastors, mentors or counselors, to strengthen us. If hopelessness feels especially heavy, reach out for help.
Sharing your pain with someone allows them to support you, pray with you and remind you of the truth even when you can’t see it yourself.
If you are experiencing a crisis, you can always call or text 988, the national number for suicide prevention and crises. This will connect you with someone who can help immediately.
Hopelessness and Poverty: Where Hope in Christ Matters Most
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33, NIV
Despite trouble, we have this hope: Jesus has overcome. In him, we have a future that isn’t defined by our circumstances. This truth shines the brightest in places of deep darkness, where basic needs go unmet, uncertainty is constant and hopelessness weighs heavy.
The Hopelessness of Child Poverty
Around the world, an estimated 412 million children live in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $3 a day. These little ones often go without the essentials needed for survival, like nutritious food, safe water and shelter.
Living in communities surrounded by need, they’re more vulnerable to violence and exploitation. Because their families can’t afford medical care, they’re often left suffering from illness. Education — which should open doors to a brighter future — is also an often-unaffordable luxury, leaving them without the opportunities they need to break free from the cycle of poverty.
Such poverty tells children, “It’s hopeless — things will always be this way. Nothing you do matters, and you don’t either.” But it’s here that the hope of Christ is most powerful. And it’s where we’ve been called to partner with him to share that hope.
Compassion Fights Hopelessness by Sharing the Gospel in Action
At Compassion, we work to fight the hopelessness of poverty by sharing the hope found in Jesus with children in need. Every child we serve hears the gospel and sees it in action as they receive care for their critical needs, from nutritious meals to medical care.
We don’t give children a care package and then send them on their way. In partnership with local churches around the world, we faithfully care for them and invite them to grow into thriving followers of Jesus.
As they do, they find hope. Despite their circumstances, they begin to grow a strong and steady assurance in who Jesus is and who they are in him. And as that hope takes root, it empowers them to push back against the lies of poverty and reach for brighter futures.
We’ve seen the power of hope in Christ and how it transforms the lives of children time and time again.
For Ricardo, hope in Jesus gave him the strength to rise from the brink of death into a life he didn’t think possible.
For Marcela, hope in Jesus inspired her to step out of hardship and turn her pain into purpose.
For Martinus, hope in Jesus empowered him to leave 14 years of gang life behind and uncover his true identity.
That’s the importance of hope in Christ: It breaks through the deepest hopelessness and anchors us to the truth that Jesus is present, faithful and able to lead us forward no matter what we face.
Hope is the strong and steady assurance that God is faithful, present and working for our good. When we hold tight to Jesus’ promises and place our hope in him, that hope steadies us through every circumstance.
