Bible Study: What Type Of Hope Do You Have ‘25

Many years ago, I was on a Navy ship in the middle of the ocean during a deployment. The sea was calm at first, but as the day wore on, dark clouds gathered, and the wind picked up. Before long, waves were crashing against the ship, tossing it violently. In moments like that, you realize how small you are and how powerful the storm can be. But what kept that ship from being dragged away? The anchor.

Hope is like that anchor. It doesn’t stop the storm from coming, but it holds you firm when everything around you is being shaken. In life, storms will come—suffering, loss, and uncertainty—but the question is: What is anchoring you?

The Bible says in Hebrews 6:19, "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." If our hope is in circumstances, relationships, or even our own strength, we’ll be tossed by the waves. But if our hope is in Christ, we will remain steady no matter what comes.

I’ve spent much of my life navigating uncertainty—whether in the military, the medical field, or in chaplaincy. I’ve seen the kind of suffering that shakes people to their core. In the Emergency Department, I stand beside families as they hear devastating news. In conflict resolution, I walk with people whose relationships are hanging by a thread. And in my own life, I’ve endured hardship—more than two dozen surgeries, a traumatic childhood, and personal struggles that have tested my faith.

So, when I talk about hope today, I’m not speaking about something abstract. I’m talking about the kind of hope that holds you when you can’t hold yourself up. The kind of hope that steadies you in war, suffering, and loss. The kind of hope that is anchored in Christ.

The Bible speaks of hope not as wishful thinking, but as a confident expectation based on God’s promises. The Hebrew word for hope, "tikvah" (תִּקְוָה), literally means a cord or rope—something you can hold onto. That’s what Rahab did in Joshua 2:18 when she tied a scarlet cord in her window as a sign of salvation. Her hope was tangible, just as ours should be.

The Greek word for hope, "elpis" (ἐλπίς), means a sure and confident expectation. It’s the kind of hope Paul talks about in Romans 5:5 “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” The reason we can have hope is because of who God is. Hope is not based on circumstances but on the unchanging nature of God.

God is Faithful – "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23) Our hope is secure because God always keeps His word. God is Sovereign – "The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all." (Psalm 103:19) Hope rests in the fact that nothing is beyond God’s control. God is Good – "The LORD is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him." (Lamentations 3:25)

Because God is good, we can trust that our future is in His hands. Hope is Rooted in God's Promises Throughout Scripture; God gives promises that secure our hope.

The Promise of Salvation – "In His great mercy, He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." (1 Peter 1:3)

Our ultimate hope is found in Christ’s victory over sin and death. The Promise of His Presence – "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)

Hope is not just about the future; it is about God walking with us in the present. The Promise of Eternal Life – "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast." (Hebrews 6:19)

Our hope is not just for this life but for eternity with God. Hope is not found in circumstances, human effort, or fleeting emotions—it is found in the person of God and the unshakable promises of His Word. Because God is faithful, we can hope with confidence. Because God is sovereign, we can hope with peace. Because God is good, we can hope with joy.

Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Our hope is not just an idea—it is a person. Jesus Christ is our living hope