Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we possess, for he who promised is faithful.
Not to second guess the Holy Spirit, Paul or the translators of the New Testament, but I have always felt the use of the word "hope" was misleading and inaccurate based on common understandings of "hope". For most people the word hope conjures up wishfulness, anticipation, a may-or-may-not proposition.
Blackaby reminds his readers that "hope" is not just wishful thinking for Christians, but a "confident expectation". Marion-Webster's provides one definition of "hope" as "trust" but that is labeled "archaic". Interesting that how Christians should view hope in the Lord is labeled as old, outdated. This is however the contemporary world view.
Regardless of how the world might view our hope in Christ, it is that very hope that can give us the peace, strength and courage to make it through hard times. Is a child straying from his upbringing- read Proverbs 22:6. Have you given up things as a result of Christ's leading- read Mark 10:29-30. Are there areas of struggle in your life that you cannot handle alone? Search the scripture to find those Biblical promises that address your challenges, then cling to them. God is faithful. He cannot lie. If He promises, it will come to pass.
Our hope in God is not wishful thinking, but a confident expectation that His promises will be fulfilled.
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