How Hope Is Produced

This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I have hope in Him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the Lord. -Lamentations 3:21-26

I am a man who desperately needs hope. I need to believe that what I do matters. I need to know this life has purpose. I need to know there is more to life than simply random or arbitrary events taking place. I need to know there is something truer than my opinions, feelings, or desires. I need to know.

The Scriptures come alongside my thoughts and tell me I can have hope. They tell me that hope is produced by recalling to mind promises of biblical truth. Why? Because the Bible contains the very words from the One who was there in the beginning, knows all things, and holds the entire creation together. He tells us how we got here, why we exist, and what happens when we pass on from this life. He tells us the problem with the world, and the problem with me. He informs me why I feel so broken, and what he has done to solve this problem. He tells me he is filled with compassion and lovingkindness. He is faithful, he is good, and he has new mercies for his people each and every morning. He tells me it is good to wait for him. And that he promises salvation (or deliverance) to those who quietly trust him to make good on his promises. If I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in my heart that God raised him from the dead; I will indeed be saved. If it were possible for God to lie, then I do not know how to have authentic hope. How could you trust in the promises of one who might leave you or forsake you?

True hope is produced by recalling to mind promises of biblical truth.