The Bible talks a lot about Hope, but we tend to use the word in a different way than the scriptures did.
To us hope is ”Well I hope I have a better day than yesterday.” Or “ I hope I win lotto this week.”
That definition means, it may or may not happen, but it would be nice if it did.
Hope in the scriptures means a sure thing that is coming (The hope of His return ) but that it is not yet seen.
Rom 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Rom 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, [then] do we with patience wait for [it].
But as the following scripture shows, hope was a sure thing. They knew they were going to make profit out of her ability (a demon really ) but when the demon was cast out, so was her ability.
Act 16:19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew [them] into the marketplace unto the rulers,
In a similar way, when in the storm the sailors had come to an end of their ability, they lost hope.
Act 27:20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on [us], all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
Then Paul comes out and says that God had spoken to him that they would all be saved, if they did things the way God wanted. Then they had new hope. No longer in their ability but in the ability of another greater than the storm.
Abraham when told that he was to have a son in his old age, looked at his body or ability (no hope) looked at Sarah’s ability (no hope) then looked at God’s ability and got hope
(Rom 4:18-23)
Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.)
And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness
Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
So God knowing our fears and doubts, has given us His Son as our Saviour, Shepherd, Priest, Lord, King, Advocate, Friend and by an oath has appointed Him to be a priest after the order of Melchisedeck to finish the work in us as long as we look to Him and Him alone
Heb 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end
(Heb 6:18-19)
That by two immutable things, in which [it was] impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Which [hope] we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
Which hope we have as an anchor to the soul
If one kept the law then there was hope they would be accepted by God.
So not many (If any) had hope. So instead of having hope in ourselves God directs us to His son, who has been appointed by God to present us holy an unblameable in His presence has given us a better hope.
(Heb 7:19)
For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope [did]; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
So when people ask us where our hope is, we can point to the Lord and Say “He is my Hope and Guarantee that I will make it”
(1Pe 3:15)
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
That is why Paul could Say
(2Ti 1:12)
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Have a search and consider the ability of the one who is able to present you faultless before the throne with exceeding Joy.
(Heb 3:1)
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
(Heb 3:2)
Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses [was faithful] in all his house.