This post on Bible stories about hope came about as I was pondering how hope springs from pain. Hope also springs from disappointments, confusion, frustration, and the unlikely. Hope pushes us to believe when everyone has failed us.

Hope springs from pain. I am forever amazed at the human heart. How it can endure overwhelming pain and yet beat with beauty and strength. How is this even possible? Why are we not trodden down and left to wallow in the dirt? Why do we continually pick ourselves up, dust the soil off, and march on?

What is the Story of Hope?

Man was created in a perfect state. He was content, satisfied, and in perfect communion with His creator. Then sin entered the world and we have been searching ever since. We’ve been struggling under the fist of pain and suffering, hard work and labor, fear and depression, and yet we know that we were created for more.

We were not created to struggle and live in regret. We were created to walk hand in hand with an all knowing and all powerful God.

When man sinned, God promised a redeemer. For thousands of years man waited for the promised Messiah, knowing that he would deliver them from thier pain. And yet, he suffered the worst pain, bearing our sins and dying our death.

Our hope is that Christ has come and set us free. Our redeemer has risen from the dead and brought us again into communion with our God. Our hope is because of Christ and his love for us!

Bible Stories about Hope

What Bible story talks about hope? Are you ready for an extended list?? The theme of hope runs thick throughout scripture. Afterall, the Bible is the story of man from beginning to end. Man, who was created perfect, given a free will, and the heartache that followed. Fortunately, we have this record of God dealing with mankind and we can glean truth, confidence, security, and hope.

Why does God supply us with these examples of hope in the Bible? Because life is difficult and we need encouragement. Am I right? When we study God’s interaction with our heroes of faith in scripture, we are filled with the hope and confidence we need to keep pushing forward.

Abraham

Abraham might be the first Bible story about hope that springs to your mind. Why? Because God gave Abraham a promise and took 25 years to fulfill it. 25 years!

We see Abraham as a man of faith, one who talked with God and obeyed Him during a time that the true God had been forgotten. God tells Abraham to leave his father’s land and he does. God tells Abraham that from him will come a great nation. The only problem is, Sarah, Abraham’s wife is barren.

Abraham questions God, Sarah takes matters into her own hands, and at long last Isaac is born in Abraham’s old age. A promise fulfilled. Hope answered. Faith confirmed.

Joseph

Our next example of hope in the Bible is Joseph. This is a well loved story that we often teach to our children, but what lessons does it hold for us?

We first meet Joseph when he is born to Jacob’s beloved Rachel. Rachel dies several years later while giving birth to Benjamin which is what I assume prompts Jacob to favor Joseph the way he does.

Joseph is raised in a pack of boys and having 11 brothers came with challenges. It didn’t help Joseph that Jacob doted on him, giving him gifts and allowing him to get out of work.

It also didn’t help that Joseph didn’t keep his prophetic dreams to himself. Dreams of his brothers bowing to him. Definitely, a recipe for jealousy which prompted them selling Joseph as a slave into Egypt. They tell Jacob that Joseph has been killed and a new life of much less favor begins for Joseph.

Joseph is the perfect example of hope in that God had already shown him through dreams that his father and brothers would bow down to him, but here he was a slave in an Egyptian home and later a prisoner. We must cling to hope when our life appears to be going in the opposite direction than what we thought God was telling us.

After a crazy series of events and many many years later, Joseph becomes Pharoah’s right hand man, is reunited with his brothers and his father, and the prophetic dreams come to pass. God had a much larger plan for Joseph than anyone could have imagined as he saves his whole family (and Egypt) from famine.

Moses

We all know the story of Moses, how he sends the plagues upon Egypt, proving the one true God, and delivers the Children of Israel from bondage and slavery. We know that he parts the Red Sea, leads the children in the wilderness for 40 years, and that he talked face to face with God.

But did you know he was 80 years old before any of this came about? Having been rescued from death by an Egyptian princess, Moses grew up in the palace, having every luxury the ancient world provided. At age 40, he becomes infuriated by the terrible treatment of the Hebrew slaves and accidentally kills an Egyptian taskmaster.

Moses runs in fear and travels across the desert to escape punishment. Here he settles down with a nomadic tribe and enjoys life for 40 years. Absolutely nothing is told to us about his thoughts or expectations during this time of his life. I cannot speak of the hope within his heart of the deliverance of his Hebrew kin, but I do know that the rest of his people were praying and begging God for a deliverer. Theirs is the true Bible story about hope in this example.

Having been strangers in a foreign land for roughly 400 years, enduring the death of their children, slavery, and forced labor for several hundred, they are begging God to free them. Their hope of a deliverer stays strong. Their hope that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had not deserted them does not diminish. They believe God is hearing them and their hope does not disappoint.

David

David is another example of a prophecy that took time to come to pass and is perfect for Bible stories about hope. God sends Samuel to anoint David king of Israel when David is a young boy. The story goes that Samuel came to anoint one of the sons of Jesse. Obviously overjoyed to have found favor with God, Jesse lines up 7 or his sons. Samuel (The story of Hannah and Samuel is another example of hope in the Bible!) passes by each one and shakes his head somewhat confused. He asks Jesse if he has any more sons. David had been in the field watching the sheep. No one had even thought to call him. Remember that, my friend, if you ever feel insignificant!

Anyway, back to hope. David grows up to be a strong man of war, winning many battles for King Saul. Because the people praise this war hero (as we are prone to do) Saul becomes jealous of David and seeks to destroy him.

Do you see how confused David must have been? Same with Joseph. They had both been called to great positions and yet they were forced to wait in terrible circumstances until God’s timing was perfect. David runs from Saul, hiding in caves, while Saul pursues him with vengeance.

Hope remains in David’s heart, waiting for the fulfilment of his kingship.

Bible Stories about Hope in the New Testament: Early Christians

The New Testament has numerous verses about hope, but less stories. History fills in the gaps and we know that the life of early Christians was not easy.

These Christians were persecuted by the hundreds at the hands of blood-thirsty Romans. Yet, they died singing praises to Jesus, their hope steadfast in a love greater than the hatred that was stealing their lives.

I recently wrote about a symbol of hope in a concentration camp and it must still be in my head because I have been mauling over the concept of hope. The very idea of hope during an hour cloaked in darkness is amazing to me. When death was all around, hope could not be killed. The desire to live, to push forward, to defy the wickedness that was determined to annihilate them. Hope springs through the darkness.

What Does the Bible Say about Hope?

What does the Bible say about hope? Other than the many Bible stories about hope, scripture is saturated with this theme. Why? Because we are fallen beings and need the hope of salvation. We need the hope of a life other than the painful one we live in. We long for an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Hope Springs Eternal

This has been one of my favorite expressions since my teen years. I think it was the missionary stories I devoured at that time in my life. Stories of brave men and women risking their lives to bring the gospel to a lost people. Heroes with such a strong conviction on their lives that they risked everything. Their hope of bringing the truth to a lost soul was a motivation beyond anything I had experienced in my (then) short life.

Do you know the story of Hannukah? A wicked people ruling the nation of Israel, forcing them to obey rules contrary to their Law and killing anyone who did not worship their false gods. Their hope of freedom could not be quenched and they rose up and fought their oppressors.

We are Created in His Image

So why the strong desire to live? Why DOES hope spring eternal?

I think it’s because we are created in God’s image. He is the giver of life, isn’t He? He is the creator of all that is good and lovely and peaceful. Inside of us is that same life. That same desire to overcome the evil that threatens to destroy us.

Hope Springs from Faith

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)

Isn’t that beautiful? The devestating trials in life bring forth good. The perseverance, character, and hope produced propels us forward, giving us peace and strength that we didn’t previous possess.

My own hope springs eternal

Looking back in my own life, I can see the dark times brought strength which produced hope in the worst times. When the unthinkable happened and I was brought to my knees, my faith rose to mock me, but my hope never died. It had been confirmed too many times previously to be destroyed.

So, dear friends, my hope for you is that you embrace the hope within your heart and find your faith in Christ, strength, and perseverance.

Everyone’s experiences are different and we all struggle in our own ways so I thought this post might be more relatable if I included stories of hope from a few other brave women. Check these beautiful posts out!

Sometimes We are Meant to be Broken by Lullaby Lark made me cry, but the message is beautifully written.

Nothing will be Impossible with God is a lovely story of hope by Where Truth Lives

Beauty of Selah has an incredible testimony of overcoming abuse.

Beauty from Ashes- Hope for Christians after Divorce is a topic I wouldn’t have thought of myself and am thankful to So Very Blessed for allowing me to include this.

Right There with You by Patty H Scott will speak to your heart.

What if it’s Not About Me by Rachel Marie Lee is a beautiful story about brokenness.

Finding Purpose in Emotional Pain by Sunshyne Gray will encourage you.

What is a Good Bible Verse for Hope?

I have an entire series devoted to Bible verses about hope so I’m going to point you in that direction. If you are looking for lists of Bible verses about hope, you will find what you are looking for in these posts!

Bible Verses about Hope in Hard Times

Bible Verses about Hope and Faith

Bible Verses about Hope and Love

Bible Verses about Hope and Healing

And with that I will leave you to ponder Bible stories about hope. Which of these examples of hope in the Bible resonated with you? I pray your heart has been encouraged and that you are drawing closer to the only one who can answer your heart’s cry.

I’d love for you to share your thought in the comments below! What are you struggling with that you are seeking out these Bible stories about hope?