We almost always use the word “hope” to mean a desire or wish: “I hope this works.” But in the Bible, hope means something more. When the psalmist writes, “My hope is in you” (v. 39:7), hope means a sure, rock-solid confidence in God’s action on his behalf. We see “hope” again in Acts 2. On the first Christian Pentecost, Peter quotes Psalm 16: “my flesh also will dwell in hope” (emphasis added).

Hope in God is not an occasional emotion. It’s a place we can “dwell.” We pitch our tent in that rock-solid confidence; we live there. In good times or bad, no matter our circumstances, we stake our claim on God’s work on our behalf. Jesus died to remove our sin. He rose to give us life. Hope is a sure thing.