“So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.” (1 Peter 1:13 NLT)
Need some Bible verses for hope? The Bible is filled with inspiring words of hope for all Christians. Christ followers find hope in the past, present and future. From the beginning, God planned to send His Son to rescue us from sin. The stories of the Old Testament illustrate humanity’s need for a Savior to intercede between us and our Holy God. Jesus willingly took human form and humbly obeyed His Father’s will, all the way to death on a cross (Philippians 2:1-10). His Holy Spirit dwells in every believer, and He sits at the right hand of the Father awaiting the time to return and right all wrongs.
The New International Version of 1 Peter 1:13 states, “with minds that are alert and fully sober;” and the English Standard Version reads, “set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Fully alert, for the original ancient audience, would have inferred the men taking up their long robes to move about more freely and quickly (NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible). It also means to think differently than we did before we knew Christ (NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible). Put together, we gain the visual of loosing thoughts, habits, sin strongholds and mindsets that trip us up, adopting the mind of Christ in order to move about life with more agility and wisdom. Wisdom is rooted in Christ.
“Hope,” in the original Greek context, is translated from the word elpizo, meaning to hopefully trust in, to wait for salvation with joy and full confidence (Strongs). The more we lend our hearts to learn of God’s love for us expressed through Christ, the propensity of our perspective to align our thoughts to His will increases. We are able to become disciplined and sober-minded in joyful anticipation of what has already been promised and fulfilled, the current indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, and the future revelation of Christ Jesus still to come! “Jesus Christ is revealed,” signifies the final revelation of Christ, who through the Holy Spirit is with us until then (New Bible Commentary).
The VOICE Bible paraphrase of 1 Peter 1:13 says, “So get yourselves ready, prepare your minds to act, control yourselves, and look forward in hope as you focus on the grace that comes when Jesus the Anointed returns and is completely revealed to you.” We have been redeemed by the blood of Christ, and so can embrace full confidence in who God is, His design for our purpose, and the return of Savior, Jesus, who will right all wrongs and heal all hurts. God’s word teems with this hope.
Here are 25 of my favorite Bible verses for hope that I cling time when times seem dark.
Photo Credit: © Unsplash/Yanibel Minaya Cruz
Below are 25 Bible verses for hope during your darkest sesasons.
1. “Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, who pleases me. I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged. He will not falter or lose heart until justice prevails throughout the earth. Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for his instruction.” – Isaiah 42:1-4 NLT
2. “But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them, but he warned them not to reveal who he was. This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him: ‘Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, who pleases me. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush the weakest read or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious. And his name will be the hope of all the world.” – Matthew 12:15-21 NLT
3. “We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)” – Romans 8:24-25 NLT
4. “Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone.’ – Psalm 33:22 NLT
5. “But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.” – Romans 8:25 NLT
6. “But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not grow faint.” – Isaiah 40:31 NLT
7. “And in another place Isaiah said, ‘The heir to David’s throne will come, and he will rule over the Gentiles. They will place their hope on him.” – Romans 15:12 NLT
8. “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” – Romans 8:28 NLT
9. “Where is my hope? Can anyone find it?” – Job 17:15 NLT
10. “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” – 1 Corinthians 13:7 NLT
11. “I am counting on the LORD; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word.” – Psalm 130:5 NLT
12. “We think you out to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live though it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely on God, who raises the dead. And he did reduce us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.” – 2 Corinthians 1:8-10 NLT
13. “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” – Philippians 3:13-14 NLT
14. “No, the LORD’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.” – Psalm 147:11 NLT
15. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” – Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
16. “This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers.” – 1 Timothy 4:10 NLT
17. “Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.” – 1 Timothy 6:17 NLT
18. “But the LORD watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love.” – Psalm 33:18 NLT
19. “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” – Hebrews 11:1 NLT
20. “As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Thessalonians 1:3 NLT
21. “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.” – Hebrews 10:23 NLT
22. “And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” – Romans 5:5 NLT
23. “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” – Colossians 3:1-2 NLT
24. “'Don't ever be afraid or discouraged,’ Joshua told his men. ‘Be strong and courageous, for the LORD is going to do this to all of your enemies.’” – Joshua 10:25 NLT
25. “Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” – Romans 5:2 NLT
Further Reading
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