What is the difference between Faith and Hope?

   One day I was thinking about the words…Faith and Hope. So I began to ask myself “what is the difference between faith and hope?” In a previous blog I wrote, biblically speaking faith is the “assurance of things hoped for; the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) Hope on the other hand is the same assurance but in the future. Hebrews 6:11 says “Our great desire is that you will keep loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true.”

    Unfortunately for some of us including myself have forgotten at some point that true hope is in God. We have often used hope as wishful thinking. For example, I hope I pass my exam or I hope my child gets into a good college. Hope was never meant to be wishful thoughts that we washed away as soon as trouble comes.     
   Hope is believing that something good will happen in the future. The only way hope works is that you put your trust in God and you believe he will show up in your life. No matter how difficult your situation is, we can have hope because of who God is. 

    One of the reasons our hope has become unstable is because we have put our hope in the wrong person or thing. I have done that myself and ended up disappointed. But with God on your side, you will never be disappointed. Psalm 42:11 says “ Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again, my savior and my God.” God will never let you down or forget about you. I am so thankful to have a God that will always be by my side. I can live in peace knowing that my source of hope comes from God.

   Hope is powerful! So we have to remind ourselves that true hope is confidence in God that he will provide. In my opinion, faith and hope can’t work without the other. Since we have faith in God who will provide our needs, we have hope in God that our future will be bright. Romans 15:13 says “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” My hope in God is what gives me the strength I need to continue to keep my faith in him. 

   So always remember, faith is confidence in God that whatever situation you are going through right now will pass. And hope means you will continue to trust God that stored up blessings, new levels, and new opportunities will come true for you in the future. In Jesus’ name, Amen!