Where is HOPE? Finding Hope in a Hopeless World: Seek the Gospel Truth

Does HOPE exist? How do you find hope when life feels difficult? How can I regain hope when I feel hopeless? No matter if you’re going through a personal time of trouble or if you’re tired of seeing all the evil, darkness, and destruction being reported in the news, you CAN find HOPE. You CAN feel HOPEFUL.

In this post, we’ll answer the question: What is hope, and why is it important? Where and how to find hope. Finally, you’ll learn how you can stay hopeful about the future when things aren’t going well. When the world seems to be in chaos. When things look bleak, hopeless, and uncertain.

What is Hope?

First, let’s look at what HOPE means in Hebrew…

True HOPE is not a feeling. It’s a ROPE. It’s something SECURE to hold on to. For instance:

“O Lord, you alone are my hope. I’ve trusted you, O LORD [Yahweh], from childhood.”
Psalm 71:5 NLT

In this passage, the Hebrew word for HOPE is Qavah, which means…

To be strong, i.e., God is my strength, and, as is His strength, so is my hope.
To wait for. Like in Psalm 37:9 (NLT), “For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land.” In other words, it’s the notion of enduring, of holding out. It’s wonderful security.
To gather together, to be wound together. Jeremiah 3:17 NLT says, “In that day Jerusalem will be known as ‘The Throne of the LORD.’ All nations will come there to honor the LORD. They will no longer stubbornly follow their own evil desires.”

“But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.”
Jeremiah‬ ‭17‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Here the Hebrew word that’s used for HOPE is Batach, which means…

To cast one’s cares or oneself upon anyone. Like in Psalm 22, when one throws oneself upon the Lord, hope blossoms.
To be secure and protected. To have courage and rest in safety. “Having hope will give you courage. You will be protected and will rest in safety.” ‭‭Job‬ ‭11‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬
“Resting in safety” denotes tranquility.

Source: “Hebrew Honey” by Marilyn Hickey Ministries. 1987, C & D International, Houston, TX.

Why is having HOPE important?

Hope is like a rope. It’s something to hold to. If you don’t have something solid to hold on to, you fall. You fail. Especially when you’re trying to do something on your own without seeking God first. Jesus is our solid rock. Our anchor. He never changes.

In the video, he tells the story of Rahab in Jericho. Find that story in the Book of Joshua. Other Hebrew words for HOPE, as mentioned in the video.

Tikvah: A measuring line pulled taut from here to there, with the present and the promise that you can hold on to.
Yachal: The endurance.

Endurance. That brings me to a very special passage in the Book of Romans. These verses got me through 2 years of unemployment.

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬ (emphasis mine)

That was from 2008-2010. Looking back now, I see the hand of God through pivotal moments during those 2 years.

I started attending a jobseekers group at North Phoenix Baptist Church.
That group eventually merged with Career Connectors.
At one of their meetings, I met Ginger, a professional resume writer.
As I introduced myself and the position I was seeking, she mentioned that her husband, Bob, an accountant, just happened to be looking for a marketing coordinator. (BTW, there are no such things as coincidences!)
I got the job, and I worked for him for a year. During that year, I learned how to build and edit a WordPress website, how online marketing had changed to “inbound marketing”, and I also mastered social media marketing.
That led me to start my own business, AZ Social Media Wiz, in 2010, and I’m still going strong!

Which brings me to another passage from Romans…

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ ‭NLT‬‬