Hope: Exploring God’s PlanSample

Hope is woven into the whole of the Bible’s narrative.

From the first book, Genesis, when humanity made choices that broke their relationship with God and affected all creation, God released hope. Instead of ignoring or destroying us, God made a plan for our redemption. Hope is echoed in the stories of Noah, Abraham, David… and ultimately, Jesus.

Over and over, the Bible recounts God making promises to humanity and then fulfilling them. He is trustworthy. And it is there that we find hope.

By looking back at the promises God has kept in the past, we can find hope for our future. So let’s look briefly at the most important promise God ever kept—the promise to send Jesus.

The Bible records over 200 of God’s promises about Jesus. Throughout the Old Testament, they’re chronicled in genres from history to poetry to prophecy. They cover His lineage. His character. What He will do and say. How He will be received. How He will come. And even how it will end.

And here's the part that changes everything: Jesus fulfilled every single promise.

Through the recounting of historical events, affirmation from eyewitnesses, and claims He made about Himself, the Bible tells us how Jesus fulfilled every promise God made. 2 Corinthians 1:20 sums it up—no matter how many promises God made, they’ve come true in Christ.

God is a promise keeper.

When you need hope for the future, you can look back at God’s record of faithfulness. In fact, that’s what Jesus told His followers to do at the Last Supper when He said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” He was teaching us that remembering God’s trustworthiness in the past makes it easier to trust Him in the present.

So that’s what I try to do. When I need a refill of hope, I intentionally look back over God’s promised plan about Jesus. When I find the waiting hard, when I feel afraid or forgotten, I look back with joy, believing I can trust God’s plan for me.

You can do the same. And as remembering helps you grow in trust for God, Romans 15:13 says you will be filled up with hope.