HOPE

Hope

"So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

— 1 Corinthians 13:13

Hope

We hope in God's promise of a share in his glory in Heaven.

God's promises are trustworthy.

Hope offers to us authentic joy and true courage, and sustains us in times of trial.

Grace

God giving us his life.

Faith

Our saying "YES" to God.

Hope

"What's the difference between hope and wishful thinking?"

Hope isn't crossing your fingers.
Hope is anchoring your soul to the faithfulness of God.

Hope

"This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, which reaches into the interior behind the veil."

— Hebrews 6:19

Anchor of Hope

Anchor of Hope

Hope

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us."

— Romans 5:1-5

Notice the Progression

Suffering

↓

Endurance

↓

Character

↓

Hope

Hope

"...and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us."

— Romans 5:5

Hope

"Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ's promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit."

— CCC 1817

Hope is Anchored

Hope is anchored in God's Promises,
not our circumstances.

Hope

"For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—oracle of the LORD—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope. When you call me, and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart."

— Jeremiah 29:11-13

Hope

God spoke these words to Israel in exile

...when everything seemed lost

Hope

"Plans for welfare and not for evil"

God is for us, not against us

Hope

"Hope is not denial of present suffering;

it's confidence in future redemption"

Hope

"You will seek me and find me"

Hope leads to seeking,
and seeking leads to finding

Hope Reorders Our Priorities

If Heaven is real, then this life is preparation,
not the main event

Hope Gives Us a Reason

Hope gives us a reason to live differently

Hope

"For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance... We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose."

— Romans 8:24-24, 28

Hope Requires Patience

In everything God works for good

Not everything is good

But our God works in EVERYTHING

Two Impediments to Hope

Despair

Presumption

Hope

"Despair... is contrary to God's goodness, to his justice—for the Lord is faithful to his promises—and to his mercy."

— CCC 2091

The Enemies of Hope

The enemies of Hope are
Despair and Presumption

Hope

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Hope

"But since we are of the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet that is hope for salvation."

— 1 Thessalonians 5:8

Let Us Pray

Lord Jesus, you are our hope—the anchor of our souls.
We have heard your promises, and we know that you are faithful.

Now send us into your presence. As we sit before you in the Sanctuary, anchor our hearts in you.

Where we are tempted to despair, give us confidence.
Where we are tempted to presume, give us holy reverence.

We go now to rest in the One who keeps his promises.
In your holy name we pray. Amen.