As a result of the problems we face, from political tribalism to economic inflation to the decline of civility in our society, it’s easy to lose hope. Yet, for us who follow Christ, we have strong reasons to have hope. Looking to examples like Hezekiah’s deliverance from the Assyrian Empire, Jesus’ heroic suffering and death on the cross, and Martin Luther King’s belief in overcoming, we can see how incredibly empowering hope can be. God calls us to be the people of hope who shine the light of His hope into a dark world.

1 Peter 1:3-5   God has begotten us to a living hope through the resurrection of Christ. This hope includes the righting of wrongs and the renewal of creation (Isaiah 25:6-9).

1 Peter 1:6-9   When we face trials, hope can help us endure as it did for Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:13-19:37).

1 Peter 1:10-12   Looking to Christ’s example, we can see the true power of hope in the face of intense and prolonged suffering (Matthew 27:42-43; Hebrew 12:1-2).

1 Peter 1:13-16   Hope should affect how we live. It is the anchor of our souls (Hebrews 6:19). In addition to getting us through hard times, our strong belief in the coming Kingdom should also motivate us to pursue holiness in our lives.