Acts 27:20 (ESV)
²⁰ When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.

As Paul traveled to Rome to stand before Caesar, the ship that he was on was caught in a storm. The storm was so severe that everyone on board believed that they were going to die. Both crew and passengers gave up hope of surviving. As the story developed, we find an angel of God appearing to Paul, telling him that no one on the ship would be lost (Acts 27:23-25). Still, before that revelation came forth, it had to be a tortuous time to be without hope.

There are too many people in the world who live in the darkness of despair and hopelessness. Thank God we do not have to exist like that. As children of God, we have hope, and it is a wonderful blessing.

Biblical hope is a confident expectation. We have confidence in our hope because we know God’s Word is true. After telling the others on the ship of the revelation he received from the angel of God, Paul said, “I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told” (Acts 27:25). That, too, is our confidence in Christ. We stand on the promises of God concerning our salvation. Our hope is not a fantasy. It is not something we believe might happen or could come to pass. It is a sure and steadfast hope.

Hebrews 6:18-19 (ESV)
¹⁸ so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. ¹⁹ We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,

The “inner place behind the curtain” is a reference to heaven where Jesus, our forerunner has gone (ver. 20). That is our hope—a home in heaven where we will be with Christ (Philippians 1:23), enjoy our glorified bodies (Philippians 3:21), and see God face to face (Revelation 22:4).

The blessing of having hope is two-fold. First, it gives us the strength to endure any circumstances or situations that come into our lives. That is why the Hebrews writer refers to it as an anchor. It keeps us from drifting away from God into the sea of iniquity. Paul said that this hope of ours saves us (Romans 8:24). The word save in this place carries the idea of being preserved or sustained. In a world filled with trials, tribulations, and temptation, hope gives us staying power.

Second, hope gives us the will and determination to abstain from sin and live godly lives.

1 John 3:2-3 (ESV)
² Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. ³ And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

If we have hope, we will do everything we can to remain in favor with God so that we are not disqualified on our journey toward the realization of our hope. Let us keep this hope before us.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.