Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.  ‎Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.  ‎

For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;  let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”  ‎

Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?  ‎But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you

Why is it that we say, “I hope in” but not “I wish in”? Is it not because hope is something given and wishes a desire to obtain? But in embarking upon either, we find a similar context - present uncertainty of future outcomes. The task of the Christian is to keep the foundations of our future free from the lures of wishful thinking. For while its scope wide and offerings sweet (“you can do anything you set your mind to”), we would have substance drive our feelings.

Ultimately, the basis of a hope and wish are as different as steel and thread. Hope comes from God and wishes depend on man. While building the future upon our own preferences may feel liberating, they will master us as they entangle and pull in every which way, except out of the path of suffering.

But God gives us firm foundation to engage every trial head-on. He tells us that we have his eyes and ears, his very presence (v 12). And we are not guinea pigs - he has always protected those he loves with many instances recorded in his word. The more familiar you are with the Bible, the more you ought to hope.

“Should the empress determine to banish me, let her banish me; ‘The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof.’ If she will cast me into the sea, let her cast me into the sea; I will remember Jonah. If she will throw me into a burning, fiery furnace, the three children were there before me. If she will throw me to the wild beasts, I will remember that Daniel was in the den of lions. If she will condemn me to be stoned, I shall be the associate of Stephen, the proto-martyr. If she will have me beheaded, the Baptist has submitted to the same punishment. If she will take away my substance, ‘naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return to it.” - JP Lange

Even if our fate is not met by a miraculous rescue, there is still reason to hope.

“Suppose a man was going to New York to take possession of a large estate, and his carriage should break down a mile before he got to the city, which obliged him to walk the rest of the way; what a fool we should think him, if we saw him wringing his hands, and blubbering out all the remaining mile, "My carriage is broken! My carriage is broken!” - John Newton