Most people understand hope as wishful thinking, but this is not it biblical definition." Hope is a firm assurance regarding things that are unclear and unknown. The inspiration behind endurance produced through suffering (Hebrews 6:11). It is a fundamental component of the life of the righteous (Proverbs 23:18). Without hope, life loses its meaning, for in death there is no hope, which is the reason it is defined as a desire with expectation of obtainment; with confidence. Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all. Trust, expectation, longing, dream, optimism, and desire are synonymous to the word Hope.

HOW DO WE BUILD OUR HOPE IN GOD?
Hope is a portion or part of faith. This implies that hope, like faith, is also strengthened by the word of God. Romans 8:32 says "He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things"? It's grounded in the rock-solid statement that "God didn't spare his own son." So the essence of what we look to in the Bible to build our hope is, What has Christ done for us in our sinful condition that enables us to hope for eternal days ahead with God. Hope comes from the promises of God rooted in the work of Christ. Believe and build in him alone your faith with your steadfastness, fidelity, faithfulness, loyalty and by keeping to his commandment. This is the birthplace of Christian self-sacrificing love. If we don't have the hope that Christ is for us then we will be engaged in self-preservation and self-enhancement. set your hope fully on the grace that has been given unto you.

PROPERTIES OF HOPE
HOPE IS ASSURANCE
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:24-25). You have got to believe that God is in control of your life, No matter the challenges, problems or hardship. Christian hope is a confidence that something will come to pass because God has promised it will come to pass.
HOPE LOOKS FORWARD
Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. (Proverbs 23:18). Other men see only a hopeless end, but the Christian rejoices in an endless hope. Christian hope is rooted in faith in the divine salvation in Christ for eternal glory and crown that fadeth not. The eternal life and the inheritance of the saints certainty of this blessed future is guaranteed through the indwelling of the Spirit and the hope of Christ in us. Rejoice that the Lord Jesus has become your strength and your song and your salvation. whatever sufferings and sorrows currently assail you are not worthy of comparison to that which waits over the horizon. Bible recorded it that the later glory shall be greater than the beginning, look forward and hold onto it with your hope.
CHRIST IS OUR HOPE
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27). The righteous who put their hope in God will be helped ( Psalm 28:7 ), and they will not be confounded, put to shame, or disappointed but having confidence in God's protection and will be free from fear and anxiety. Hope of Christians is brought into being through the presence of the promised Holy Spirit. Let this one great, gracious, glorious fact lies in your spirit until it permeates all your thoughts and makes you rejoice even though you are without strength. It may be a tough time but you have got to believe that God has a reason for it and He iss going to make everything good.

FUNCTIONS OF HOPE
- Hope exhibits great boldness in our faith.
- Hope is an enduring virtue of the Christian life.
- Hope springs out our love ( Colossians 1:4-5 ).
-Hope produces joy and peace to believers through the power of the Spirit (Rom15:13 ).

THE WORKS OF HOPE
(1 Sam 1:9) Elkanah had two wives; Peninnah and Hannah. Hannah had no child. She build her hope in God, lean onto Him and that same year, God visited her and loosed her chain of barrenness. She conceived and bare three sons and two daughters with Samuel (1 Sam 2:21). Have your hope well built in Christ, the Barrens, and you will be favoured, conceive and give birth to a great children like Samuel.
Joseph was very young powered with a dream of greatness and prosperity, this developed hatred among him and his brothers which led him to slavery. But Joseph walked in righteousness and diligently seek the face of God with hope. Joseph overcame and was raised from slavery to a ruler, the first prime minister ever in the universe. So be calm and never backslide but build your hope in Christ and you will overcome difficulties obstructing your glory.
King Hezekiah was healed from a sickness that was prophesied to leads to death. You patients and the sick, don't relent or give up, but rather build your hope in Christ and you will be healed completely remembering the woman with the issue of blood.
The disciples of Jesus Christ never died in the Sea. You passing through tribulations, be hopeful in Christ and your storm will soon be over.
David fought throughout, but never died on the battle field, to you that affliction is waging war against. Have hope in Christ and you will be victorious.
Don't relent. The downfall and failure you experienced today is not your end, move closer to God. There is hope to-day; this very hour you can choose Him and serve Him. He is ready to restructure you for greatness, rebuild your lapses, reselect you for goodness, mark you for success, make the sky your starting point and to give you life everlasting with God, in his kingdom.