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Hope

What is hope?

People usually think of hope as a vague feeling of desire.Our hope tends to be that which we wish to happen but not necessarily what we expect.Perhaps you’ve heard the expression,

“Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.”

This is different than how the Bible speaks about hope.
There are actually about ten different Hebrew words rendered as hope in the Old Testament depending on the translation. And two Greek words for hope in the New Testament


Here are a few of these words.

Tiqvah literally means a cord or attachment. It originally carried the sense of something strengthened by being bound together, such as a rope. This rope or cord endures when tested and stretched.

The concept of hope as symbolically represented by these words is the trust placed in an unbreakable promise.

Yachal means to wait expectantly. It is to patiently endure because of the assurance of what is coming.

“For in You, O Lord, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God” ~ Psalm 38:15

Elpis is an expectation or confidence. It is the act of expecting or trusting.

So those who are trusting in God and placing their hope in Christ can wait expectantly, with confidence, and persevere through life challenges and obstacles knowing in the end there is a God who loves them, cares for them, and is aware of all they are experiencing.

Where have you placed your hope?


~ Acknowledgement – Chuck McKnight

 Lightouse - Hope