"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12

'Joyful in hope'
From Vine's Expository Dictionary: "ELPIS (hope), in the New Testament, favorable and confident expectation. It has to do with the unseen future."
Another defines it as, the expectation of future good.

Romans 15:4 tells us of the grounds for this hope, "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."

Romans 4:18 tells us of the impossible quality of hope as we read in Abraham's experience, "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, 'So shall your offspring be.'"
Genesis 15:5 is the reference and says,
"Then He (God) brought him outside and said, 'Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.' And He said to him, 'So shall your descendants be.'"

Hope is described 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

Sure and steadfast:
"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil." Hebrews 6:19

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

Living, blessed, good, sure and steadfast and a great virtue; this is the description of this hope we have been given!

Hope has the quality of producing--
Purity:
"Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as He is pure."
1 John 3:3

Patience:
"But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."
Romans 8:25

Rejoicing and courage:
"...And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." Romans 5:2-5

The object of this hope is eternal life, "In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began." Titus 1:2

And hope does not disappoint!!! Thank you Lord for your promise that is our in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen