Hope through Scripture
Paul makes a striking claim about why the Scriptures were written: so that through endurance and the encouragement they give, people might have hope. Hope, in other words, is fed by God's word. When hope runs low, the remedy is not to search harder inside yourself for optimism but to go back to what God has said. The psalmist repeatedly says he hopes in God's word, treating the promises as something solid to stand on. This is practical. A specific promise, read and believed, does more for sinking hope than a hundred pep talks. When you feel hope thinning, return to the text, and let what God has said rebuild what circumstances have worn down.
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope.
Romans 15:4 · ASVPaul says whatever was written in former days was written for instruction, so that through endurance and the comfort of the Scriptures believers might have hope. Scripture is presented as a God-given source of hope.
Thou art my hiding-place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
Psalm 119:114 · ASVThe psalmist calls God his hiding place and shield, and says he hopes in God's word. Hope is tied directly to trusting what God has spoken.
My soul fainteth for thy salvation; But I hope in thy word.
Psalm 119:81 · ASVThe psalmist says his soul faints for God's salvation while he hopes in His word. Even in exhaustion, the word of God is where his hope is fixed.
Remember the word unto thy servant, Because thou hast made me to hope.
Psalm 119:49 · ASVThe psalmist asks God to remember the word that gave him hope. The verse shows hope resting on a specific promise God has made.