Biblical hope is not optimism. Optimism is based on observation of positive possibilities in the external world. Biblical hope finds no such assurance. It does not promise that our projects will succeed or that we will find within ourselves the capacity to overcome all obstacles. It is not rooted in self-generated positive thinking.
Biblical hope is bluntly realistic.
Its roots lie in a Scripture that is full of stories about evil, sin, domination, pain, and failure. It meets the world with the relentless insistence that God is bringing a new creation to birth. Despite all visible evidence, despite discouragement, fracture, hurt, and exhaustion, despite our limitations and the smallness of our efforts, God is working. Herein lies the profound mystery and transformative power of biblical hope. It is engendered in the midst of suffering.