"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." Romans 15:4

God's written word is to teach us. Our verse tells us that it is:
"...through endurance and encouragement..." New International Version "...through patience and comfort..." New King James Version "...through perseverance and encouragement..." New American Standard And why? That we:
"...might have hope."

"Vine's Expository Dictionary" says,
Hope is "Favorable and confident expectation. It has to do with the unseen and the future."

God is the Author of our hope,
"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

Jesus Christ is the Object upon which hope is based, "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope." 1 Timothy 1:1

Hope is God's promise to the elect:
"In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began." Titus 1:2

Scripture describes hope as--
Living:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." 1 Peter 1:3

Blessed:
"Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." Titus 2:13

Good:
"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work."
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Better:
"For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of the former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness, (for the Law made nothing perfect), on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God." Hebrews 7:18-19

A sure and steadfast anchor:
"That by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil." Hebrews
6:18-19

And it is one of the great virtues:
"And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

Also, in hope there is produced--
Purity:
"And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him (God) purifies himself, just as He is pure." 1 John 3:3

Patience:
"But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it." Romans 8:25

Stability:
"...He (Christ Jesus) has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach -- if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven." Colossians 1:22-23

As the song says,
"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness."
So we stand on the solid rock, our foundation, who is Jesus; all else is sinking sand!

Thank you Lord for Your loving kindness and tender mercies! All we have comes from You. Words are not adequate to express, nor do we even know how to express, how grateful we are for the great love with which You love us.  It is so awesome! We love and adore You!  Amen