It was only five months ago that a soccer team in Thailand became trapped in a murky cave system inside a mountain. The world was riveted on efforts to get them out. Imagine how stressful it must have been for those boys, all 14-15 years old, and their coach as they huddled on a muddy slope in the dark waiting for somebody to find them. It took a week before they were discovered. Parents and friends quickly gathered at the cave entrance to pray and encourage each other. It took 18 days to figure out how to rescue them and successfully get them out. Along with their parents, the whole world longed for hope, and remarkably all 12 boys and their coach were brought to safety.

The Bible is a book of hope. To the Christian, hope is steadfast, sure, an anchor to the soul. It is a dynamic of the faith. Romans 15:1 says, “For everything written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.” Sometimes the circumstances are dire, and we wonder if there is any hope. It could be illness, surgeries, tests, job loss, and dark days, etc. But with God there is solid hope.

1 Corinthians 13 speaks of the greatness of faith, hope and love. Love is the greatest and faith can move mountains. Hope is also real, important and necessary.

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” The passage not only defines faith, but it also defines hope.

Hope is important for us. We need anticipation for our lives and for the church. When Jesus burst forth from the cave-like tomb, He gave us hope. It makes a world of difference.

– Tim and David Johnson