HOPEY New Year!

I’ve been writing about HOPE since the pandemic, however, 2025 marked the year I officially began my scholarly HOPE research. While I’ve acquired bunches of HOPE-smarts, I know I have bunches more to learn. As we celebrate a new year with new resolutions, dreams, and HOPES, I aim to share my “scholarly” wisdom in HOPES it will inspire your HOPE throughout this year.  

HOPE is a superpower, synergistically powered by Biblical-based faith. The two can’t exist without each other. Now, I know some reading this will argue that they have HOPE without Biblical faith. They may be surprised to hear that I agree. However, there are two types of HOPE. HOPE without Biblical faith is a wishful HOPE, a pie-in-the-sky HOPE, a blowing-out-the-birthday-candles HOPE. Wishful HOPE is “espoir” in French. (Don’t I sound scholarly?)

Biblical HOPE, on the other hand, is HOPE grounded in deep faith and trust in God and His promises, provision, and plan. This HOPE is backed by the supernatural power of Our Father, His Son, and His Holy Spirit. Faithful HOPE is wrapped in God’s faithfulness toward us, sealed with His love for us. Faithful HOPE is referred to as “espérance” in French. The difference between espoir and espérance HOPE is as inverse as night and day, dark and light, earth and heaven… an infinite difference with eternal significance.

Wishful HOPE reminds me of New Year’s resolutions that fade away within the first weeks of January. Faithful HOPE remains when wishful HOPE wanes, viewing setbacks as setups to even bigger dreams and transformational goals. Wishful HOPE’s power scores low on the HOPE scale while faithful HOPE blows that scale out of the water and into eternity. This HOPE difference invites the question one must ask: Do I have finite, wishful (low) HOPE or infinite, faithful (high) HOPE? There is a huge HOPE gap between the two.

While I still have much to discover about HOPE, here are my top ten discoveries through a faith-based and academic lens:

1. Faithful HOPE is based on an intimate relationship with God as His Holy Sprit offers an infinite source of HOPE to those who believe in God’s grace and Jesus’ sacrifice. (1 Corinthians 3:16)

2. HOPE’s unfailing anchor is faith in God’s Word, will, and way, supported by His love, grace, and wisdom. HOPE and faith are inseparably synonymous with faith-based believers avowing HOPE as an attribute of their soul. (Hebrews 11:1)

3. HOPE does not avoid suffering but acknowledges it through faith in God’s abundant provision and amazing plan. (Psalm 23)

4. Faithful HOPE empowers people to reframe adversity with perseverance, building character and a HOPE-based mindset. (Romans 5:3-4)

5. HOPE is inspired by adversity and fueled by innate and learned dispositions. Those with high HOPE find alternate ways to hit home runs when they are thrown curve balls. (James 1:2-4)

6. HOPE is a catalyst for positive change, influencing mental health while having an inverse relationship to depression. HOPE bolsters a greater sense of purpose, profound life satisfaction, and positive emotional adjustment. (Romans 12:12)

7. HOPE is learned and fostered, resulting in higher levels of HOPE and engagement, motivating learners to resiliently flourish through challenges. HOPE is not passive, but active, inspiring one to pursue future-oriented goals (Jeremiah 29:11)

8. HOPE weaves cognitive, affective, and spiritual domains energizing one’s flourishing. Faith and HOPE link all three domains, paving a pathway to achievement using setbacks as steppingstones to success. In fact, HOPE is a robust predictor of successful academic outcomes. (Romans 8:28)

9. Family, peers, and educators serve as HOPE influencers as they convey social expectations and cultural values, providing emotional support. (I Thessalonians 5:11)

10. Those with high HOPE become HOPE sources for their communities and families, bolstering HOPE mindsets while growing a HOPE network. (Ephesians 4:29)

    
    

The benefits of faithful HOPE know no boundaries and are as infinite as God’s love, grace, and wisdom. Faithful HOPE is a synergistic superpower that leads, supports, and reinforces a HOPEful mindset and outlook despite tests, trials, and tribulations. Faithful HOPE empowers those who believe in God to strive and succeed regardless of detour, deterrent, or distraction.

To truly experience faithful HOPE through God’s indwelling Holy Spirit, you must invite Jesus into your heart. If you are struggling to find words to extend this invitation, Billy Graham has some you can borrow:

Dear God, I know I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son, that He died for my sins, and that You raised Him from the dead. I turn away from my sins and ask Jesus to come into my life as my Lord and Savior. Guide my life and help me do Your will. In Jesus' name, Amen.

May this new year be the “blessed” one yet as you welcome Jesus as your Savior, God as your Father, and His Holy Spirit as an indwelling Support for your soul. HOPEY New Year!