Restoring Hope in Shattered Circumstances and Trials
Hope, in the biblical sense, is not merely wishful thinking but a confident expectation rooted in God's character and promises, particularly relevant in times of adversity [4]. The prophet Jeremiah, even amidst profound national lament, found a turning point by recalling God's steadfast love and mercies, stating, "But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:21-23 ESV). Matthew Henry notes that this remembrance of God's character allows hope to disperse the clouds of despair, preventing the heart from breaking [5].
This hope is consistently portrayed as being grounded in the Lord rather than in human capabilities or circumstances [4]. The psalmist, facing suffering, confesses faith in God's ability to transform misery into abundant life, finding encouragement and strength in God's righteous character [3]. Similarly, when the psalmist felt his "foot slippeth," it was God's mercy that upheld him, providing a solid foundation for hope even in desperate situations [9].
The concept of hope extends to the future resurrection, as articulated by Paul in Acts 24:15, where he speaks of a hope in God for the resurrection of both the just and the unjust [1]. This eschatological hope provides a long-term perspective that can sustain believers through present trials.
In the Old Testament, even after significant disruptions, the example of God's people turning to Him and receiving His help offered hope to subsequent generations facing similar challenges [2]. The book of Malachi, for instance, presents a divine invitation to "test the Lord," offering the community an opportunity to prove His faithfulness to His covenant promises, thereby restoring hope [8].
The prophet Zechariah refers to God's people as "prisoners of hope," implying that even in captivity or difficult circumstances, their hope for redemption and salvation through Christ remains [6]. This hope is not passive but active, leading to purification. As 1 John 3:3 states, "Everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure" (ESV). This purification is understood as being wrought by Christ's Spirit within the believer, grounded in His promises, and presupposing justification through faith [7]. Augustine is cited as noting that this self-purification is not from oneself but from Christ dwelling within [7].
Sources
- Acts “Acts 24:15 (DRC) — Having hope in God, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection of the just and unjust.”
- 2 Chronicles (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Chronicles 13:13: 13:13-19 The example of God’s people turning to him and his helping them, even after the kingdom had been disrupted, provided hope for the original readers in a similar situation.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 71:19: 71:19-21 God’s righteous character provides encouragement and strength in the midst of suffering. The wounded psalmist confesses faith in God’s ability to transform his misery and weakness into abundant life.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 31:14: 31:14-18 Hope does not confide in frail and changeable human beings but only in the Lord. The sufferer entrusts himself to God while waiting for the Lord’s justice.”
- Lamentations (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Lamentations 3:21: Here the clouds begin to disperse and the sky to clear up; the complaint was very melancholy in the former part of the chapter, and yet here the tune is altered and the mourners in Zion begin to look a little pleasant. But for hope, the heart would break. To save the heart from being quite broken, here is something called to mind, which gives ground for hope (Lam 3:21), which refers to what comes after, not to what goes before. I make to return to my heart (so the margin words it); what we have had in our hearts, and have laid to our hearts, is sometimes as ”
- Zechariah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Zechariah 9:12: Turn ye to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope,.... "That hope for redemption", as the Targum paraphrases it; not for redemption from the Babylonish captivity, at the end of seventy years, which was now over; but for redemption and salvation by Christ; for not the people of the Jews, who stayed in Babylon, can be meant; for, as they were at liberty to go from thence by the edict of Cyrus, they can not be said to be prisoners, much less prisoners hoping for deliverance, when they had, or might have it; but rather the Jews, who were come out of Babylon, as out of a”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:3: this hope--of being hereafter "like Him." Faith and love, as well as hope, occur in Jo1 3:11, Jo1 3:23. in--rather, "(resting) upon Him"; grounded on His promises. purifieth himself--by Christ's Spirit in him (Joh 15:5, end). "Thou purifiest thyself, not of thyself, but of Him who comes that He may dwell in thee" [AUGUSTINE]. One's justification through faith is presupposed. as he is pure--unsullied with any uncleanness. The Second Person, by whom both the Law and Gospel were given.”
- Malachi (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Malachi 3:10: 3:10 Put me to the test! The divine invitation to test the Lord offers the restoration community an opportunity to prove his faithfulness to his covenant promises.”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 94:18: When I said, my foot slippeth,.... There is no ground for me to stand upon; all is over with me; there is no hope nor help for me; I am just falling into ruin and destruction: such will be the desperate case of the church, at the time before referred to: thy mercy, O Lord, held me up; the extremity of his people is the Lord's opportunity; then is his set time to arise, and have mercy on them; then mercy steps in, lays a solid ground and foundation for hope, and holds up in its arms a sinking people, and revives a dying cause.”