What are the bible proverbs about hope? Find out in this article with commentary on each verse.
Introduction
Having hope in God is essential; it is a Christian lifeline. Hope is the staple food of believers. It is not optimism, but a confident belief based on God’s word. This hope is anchored on the expectation of the fulfilment of God’s promises. Without hope, the Christian’s life does not make much sense because our hope is anchored on the return of Christ our king, Lord and savior. Hope is one of the main ingredients of Christianity.
6 Bible proverbs about hope
Proverbs 10:28
The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
The hope of the righteous is in God. No matter what an honest man faces, he will be victorious because his hope is in an everlasting God. Hope sails a believer through trials and temptations. Looking at the story of Job, even in agony, after losing everything he had, his hope remained in God. Hope is powerful enough to sustain a man through the worst of tribulations.
Hope lights its beacon through the darkest of days. It shines during sickness when there is hope for healing; it shines when a loved one dies when we hope to meet again in Heaven. Hope is designed for the darkest of hours or days. When we are poor, we hope that God will provide for us. This is why the hope of the righteous will be gladness. They hope for the best outcome through God in difficult times. Only the hope of the righteous brings gladness, but the expectations of the wicked will bring misery and no fruits.
Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
Hope keeps a man focused and expecting. If this hope is crushed, it crumbles a man. There is disappointment and despair. A world without hope is a place of the dead. The phrase hope deferred in the verse means to be dragged out, a long process. It is referring to a prolonged wait, perhaps a wait such as when Daniel waited for an answer to his prayers. It takes discipline to wait and have hope in God. In the end, it is worth it.
Proverbs 17:22
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
A joyful heart is full of delight and never loses hope. It is excellent medicine because there is no room for depression or stress. There is always hope for the best in every situation. A joyful heart is good for health. When the mind is under a lot of pressure, the physical body reacts by getting ill. That is when you get depressed and anxious people. There is a connection between our emotions and physical health. Therefore, a crushed spirit leads to disappointment.
Proverbs 18:10
The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
In ancient cities, a strong tower was a place where people could run to when faced with danger for safety and protection. Their hope in getting to the tower gave them strength for the tower would protect them, solving all their problems and insecurities. Jesus is the strong tower in which we place our hope, and He protects us from all the dangers we face.
Proverbs 23:18
For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
When you hope in Jesus, you will never be disappointed. It is a genuine hope that is not only in the present but also in the future until the end of time. Everything that we hope for in God will happen. This verse gives us confidence and assures us of that. We should anchor our hope on the word of God, and the word is Jesus.
Proverbs 24:14
So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
Wisdom is from God, therefore finding wisdom is finding treasure from God. Whoever finds wisdom gains a good future and above all, hope. Note that it is man’s responsibility to search for and find wisdom. Then, after you find wisdom, God will place hope in your heart and bless your future. Wisdom allows us to access a good life, which is all a man hopes for from when he is young.
Conclusion
Hope is future centred. The hope of Christians is in the expectation of Jesus’ return and going to Heaven. We hope for an eternity in Heaven with God. A place without death, no sickness and no sorrow, simply put, a place with none of the earthly sorrows. In today’s difficult world, we need hope more than ever. With pandemics and wars, it is important to hope that things will improve for good and expect the best in God. Hope goes hand in hand with prayer. We pray and then hope for answers to our prayers from God.
