As we celebrate Thanksgiving, it seemed appropriate to remember the true reason we give
thanks — because of the hope we have in Christ.
Awhile back, out of curiosity, I logged on to the Suicide Crisis Center website. Although I wouldn’t normally visit this particular site, I wanted to see what counsel it offered to people contemplating suicide. After all, suicide is usually the result of utter hopelessness. So, I wondered, what hope would this Internet resource offer to those needing it most?
In my quest for information, I was drawn to two particular articles. One was titled, “Why Live? When You Feel Like Dying.” Its answer to that question went like this:
- Because you have an illness that makes you want to kill yourself.
- Because you are not just depressed—you have depression. . . .
- Because you can treat depression, even cure it.
- Because your life has value and can be saved. . . .
- [Because] your life force wants you to go on, find treatment, and make a meaningful life for yourself and those you love or will love. [1]
In another article, the possible cures for depression were listed and evaluated. The article began by stating, “Depression is a treatable illness. . . . Somehow, someway, you must change, improve, or correct your brain chemistry before you will feel good again.” [2] It continued by listing several possible methods of treatment: antidepressants, psychotherapy, hormone treatment, nutritional supplementation, special clinics, L-Tryptophan, herbal remedies, ECT shock treatments, and alternative medicine. The list concluded with a very nebulous “religion” category and then added, “Remember, it’s great to pray, but get chemical help anyway!”
Interestingly, the Bible approaches hopelessness in any form – from suicide and depression to guilt and anxiety — in a very different way. Instead of promoting treatment plans, dietary pills, or chemical prescriptions, Scripture points people to the basis of true hope — namely, God Himself. Certainly, modern medical science plays a key role in caring for legitimate diseases and health conditions. Yet, when it comes to finding hope in this life, God’s Word is clear: the source is always and only the Lord.
In fact, all throughout Scripture the concepts of hope, trust, promise, faith, belief, and confident expectation appear continually. They are like mile markers on the highway — signposts that constantly remind the reader to focus on God and look to Him for assistance. He is our refuge (Psalm 9:9), our joy (Psalm 43:4), our deliverer (Psalm 18:2), our help (Psalm 40:17), our strength (Psalm 22:19), and our comfort (Psalm 119:76). Why then, would we hope in medication or therapy or anything else before we would hope in God?
Where then, should we as Christians turn when life seems hopeless? Where should we look for hope when we’re feeling discouraged or dismayed? The Bible gives us the obvious answer: we must look to the One whose promises are sure, whose power is unsurpassed, whose wisdom is eternal, and whose love is infinite. Whether we look to the provision of our heavenly Father, the Person of our Savior Jesus Christ, or the promises of Holy Scripture the point remains, hope is found in God alone. After all, Jesus Christ is God the Son, God in human flesh. And Holy Scripture is God’s book, written by the Holy Spirit (cf. 2 Peter 1:21).
Let’s turn our attention, then, to God’s Word and be encouraged to look for hope where God tells us to find it. Let’s see where our Creator, the One who made us and knows us best, wants us to go when we feel hopeless. And, while many other verses could be added to our list, be encouraged by this brief testimony of thirty biblical passages, given by God Himself, concerning where to find true hope.
1. You Can Find Hope by Looking to Your Heavenly Father.
Psalm 33:20–22: We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.
Psalm 62:5–8: Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
Psalm 71:5: For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.
Psalm 146:5–6: Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—the Lord, who remains faithful forever.
Psalm 147:10–11: His [God’s] pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
Proverbs 23:17–18: Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.
Micah 7:7: But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
2 Corinthians 1:10: He [God] has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.
Ephesians 1:18: I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he [God] has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.
1 Timothy 6:17: Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
Titus 1:1–2: Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness—a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.
Hebrews 10:23: Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
* See also: Psalm 25:1-5; 31:23-24; 52:9; 65:5; 133:3; Isaiah 40:28–31; Romans 5:1–5; 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17; Hebrews 6:17–20; 1 Peter 1:3-4.
2. You Can Find Hope by Looking to Christ and His Return.
Matthew 12:21: In his [Jesus’] name the nations will put their hope.
Romans 15:12–13: And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Colossians 1:3–5: We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints—the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel.
Colossians 1:27–28: To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
1 Thessalonians 4:13–14: Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
1 Timothy 1:1: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope.
Titus 2:11–14: For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Titus 3:4–7: But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
1 Peter 1:13: Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 John 3:2–3: Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he [Christ] appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
3. You Can Find Hope by Looking to God’s Word.
Psalm 119:43: Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws.
Psalm 119:49: Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.
Psalm 119:74: May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word.
Psalm 119:81: My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word.
Psalm 119:114: You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.
Psalm 119:147: I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word.
Psalm 130:5–7: I wait for the Lord , my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.
Romans 15:4: For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Where Is Your Hope Built?
Clearly, the overwhelming testimony of Scripture is that lasting hope is found in God alone—whether through the provision of the Father, the Person of the Son, or the promises of Scripture. While people are often tempted to look elsewhere, their search for true hope is a vain endeavor. Medication may make them feel better, alcohol may dull their senses, entertainment may help them escape, other possibilities may distract them—yet, all of these are only temporary fixes. They are like bandages on cancer. They can never actually solve the problem, they can only cover it up for a time.
Only a heart that has been changed by Jesus Christ and that looks to God for its strength can enjoy true hope. The promises of God can be trusted, because God cannot lie; they can be enjoyed, because they were given for our spiritual good; and they can be embraced forever, because they are eternal.
Are you discouraged? Are you disheartened and downcast? Is your life not what you desire? Is the guilt of your sin too much for you to bear? Do your problems feel insurmountable or your struggles too painful to endure? Do you not know that there is hope, real hope, in God? Jesus said, in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” The question is, will you come? Or, will you look for your hope in the things of this earth, things that can never satisfy and will ultimately only disappoint?
With this in mind, John Gill says:
God is faithful to all His promises, nor can He fail, or deceive; He is all wise and foreknowing of everything that comes to pass; He never changes His mind, nor forgets His word; and He is able to perform, and is the God of truth, and cannot lie; nor has He ever failed in anyone of His promises, nor will He suffer [allow] His faithfulness to fail; and this is a strong argument to hold fast a profession of faith. [3]
Our search for help, then, must begin with the One who will never fail, for only He offers true hope.
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Endnotes:
[1] Melody Clark, “Why Live? When You Feel Like Dying,” http://www.suicidecrisiscenter.com (accessed May 10, 2003).
[2] Melody Clark, “Question 12: What Treatments Are Available For Depression?” http://www.depressionfaq.com/q12.html (accessed May 10, 2003).
[3] John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (Philadelphia: W. W. Woodward, 1811), comment on Hebrews 10:23.
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