In today’s culture of attention-grabbing headlines and the common social media practice of “doom scrolling,” feelings of hopelessness can permeate the spirits of many. But the truth of God’s Word illuminates a promise of hope in Christ Jesus.
If you are feeling hopeless, read through these Bible verses and the commentaries of several professors from Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary & Graduate School’s Bible & Theology Department.
LBC | Capital offers in-person and online degrees in Biblical Studies at the undergraduate on-campus level, as well as online for those seeking bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees in Biblical Studies. Plus, Lancaster Bible College has been named the No. 1 Online Bible College in America several times by multiple ranking organizations.
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
“Hopelessness is a growing problem, and it’s a deadly problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide (the last stop on a journey through hopelessness) is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States (CDC statistics, 2022). While our English word, ‘hope,’ does not necessarily instill confidence (‘I hope the chemotherapy can arrest the cancer’), the New Testament word ‘hope’ communicates no such ‘fingers-crossed’ uncertainty. Instead, the word describes an enduring, settled confidence in the promises of God while we still await the ultimate fulfillment of those promises. The great apostle Paul was reminding the Roman recipients of his letter about the greatest promise of all from the ‘God of hope…’—His promise to reverse the curse of sin in this broken world by providing salvation for all people, Jew and Gentile alike (Romans 15:8-12). This culminates in a new creation untainted by sin, sorrow and brokenness. In this prayer-blessing that Paul speaks over his readers, we are invited to experience joy, peace and overflowing ‘confidence in the promises of God,’ as His Spirit enables us to rest in the assurance that God is always true to His Word.”
—Dr. Sam Harbin
Chair of the Bible & Theology Department
2 Corinthians 4:18
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
“Our society is preoccupied with the immediate, and it is getting worse. It used to be that if we called and left a phone message, we knew it might be hours before the person we called would respond. Now we are frustrated and nervous if someone doesn’t answer our text message immediately. It is easy to take that attitude toward suffering. But Paul in this passage makes it clear that his timeframe is eternity. The verses before this passage describe trials and sufferings that would overwhelm anyone, but Paul calls them ‘light and momentary.’ As far as we can tell, Paul’s afflictions would have lasted from his conversion around AD 33 to his death as a martyr in about AD 64—in other words, for the last 30 or so years of his life! But both the greatness of the glory and the eternal duration of God’s blessing for believers rendered his assessment of those three decades as ‘light and momentary affliction.’ Following Paul’s example, when we are overwhelmed by trials and suffering, we can fix our hope on the ‘eternal weight of glory’ that we know is ours in Christ Jesus.”
—Dr. Joseph Kim
Professor of Bible & Theology
Further Reading: Read Dr. Kim’s commentary on the architectural steps of “Building a Biblical Worldview.”
Psalm 62:5-6
For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
“At the beginning of Psalm 62, David says, ‘I shall not be greatly shaken’ (v. 2). This comes after he confesses that God is his rock, salvation and fortress (v. 1-2). He is being attacked by people who want to take him down, and he feels as though he will certainly fall. But, in desperate trust, David repeats the truth that God will protect him (v. 5-6). Through this repetition and meditation on the presence and protection of God, David finds strength. His conclusion after reminding himself of truth: ‘I shall not be shaken.’ In other words, David moves from a shaky confession to a sure conviction. This is the power of focus on God and not ourselves in time of trials.”
—Dr. Mark Farnham
Director of the Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics Program
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
“Jeremiah 29:11 can easily be misunderstood. It is not a carte blanche promise that God will give everybody whatever they define as ‘the good life.’ In context, Jeremiah is writing a letter from Jerusalem to those who are already in Babylonian captivity (29:1-23). He has told them that they are in exile because they have not submitted to God through the words of His prophets. Rather, they have followed the words of false prophets (29:8-10, 15-23). However, Jeremiah gives hope to this group if they will repent and seek after God (29:12-14). If they do, God will be gracious to them in exile (29:5-7) and will allow His repentant people to return to Jerusalem in His appointed time (29:11). We learn that our gracious Sovereign God desires to be kind to His repentant people so they can experience what He has designed for them.”
—Dr. Doug Finkbeiner
Director of the Master of Arts in Biblical Studies Program
Isaiah 40:31
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
“Isaiah 40 is often seen as the turning point in the book of Isaiah, moving from the first 39 chapters that speak primarily of God’s judgment due to the sin of Israel and the surrounding nations, to the last 27 chapters, mainly detailing God’s restoration of his people. Chapter 40 begins with God coming to His people speaking comfort to them. The chapter then moves to a contrast of God’s greatness and strength compared to the insignificance and weakness of the surrounding nations and their idols. This leads to the concluding verses in the chapter that speak of us as often feeling faint, weary and exhausted. But these verses also speak of God never growing faint or weary. Indeed, He gives strength to those who wait on Him, allowing them to have hope and to persevere through the challenges of life.”
—Dr. Gordon Gregory (’82)
Professor of Bible & Theology, Faculty Athletics Representative
Philippians 1:6
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
“Philippians is one of Paul’s prison letters, written to one of the fledgling churches he established on his second missionary journey (Acts 15:36-18:23). Significantly, Philippi was a prized Roman colony, essentially being Rome in microcosm, with all its values, privileges, practices. As such, while the Philippian saints were apt to principally cherish Roman citizenship, Paul’s letter seeks to reorient their affections Christ-ward, to their heavenly citizenship, prizing above all else their fundamental allegiance to Christ’s kingdom, rather than the Roman emperor’s kingdom (Phil. 1:27, 3:20). The result being that the values, behaviors and practices of the Philippian would reflect those of their heavenly Lord. But first, and consistent with Paul’s typical theological pattern (grace leads to gratitude: Romans 12:1-2, Gal. 5:1, Eph. 4:1, Col. 3:1, etc.), Paul begins his letter by proclaiming the grace of God in Christ, that which their Lord has done and continues to do for them. This good news is fully capable, by the Holy Spirit, to create faith in the Philippian saints and propel them toward a life of heavenward gratitude. This is the unchanging and powerful gospel that the saints of today must also continually embrace.”
—Dr. Timothy Nicholls (’95 & ’04)
Bible & Theology Professor
Lamentations 3:21-23
But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never* ceases; his mercies never* come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
“The book of Lamentations consists of poetic prayers of lament to God over the then-recent destruction of Jerusalem and the temple as well as the death and/or exile of God’s people. It was composed during the Babylonian exile and contains some of the deepest expressions of grief, sorrow and pain in the Bible. And yet, it is in this context that the author reminds himself of what he knows to be true. *The English translations often add the word ‘never’ twice to verse 22, making the statements seem universal; e.g., ‘the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end.’ But this verse would be more accurately translated as: ‘The Lord’s acts of steadfast love have not ceased; his mercies have not come to an end.’ This is said even in the face of the destruction of Jerusalem and the murder, rape and exile of its people. Even there in exile, the mercies of God had not come to an end; even there, his mercies were new every morning. This passage teaches us that no matter what we face or how low our circumstances might bring us, we can count on God to be faithful and for His mercies to never come to an end.”
—Dr. Daniel E. Carver (’09 & ’11)
Associate Professor of Old Testament
Revelation 21:4
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
“Contextually, Revelation 21:4 appears in the final act of the Bible’s grand narrative and provides a glimpse of the age to come. The current age defined by sin, suffering and death will be no more. God will dwell with His people, as verse 3 indicates, and comfort them as a loving parent comforts a crying child. This is the hope of all who have placed their trust in Christ.”