Love hopes all things.  In a way, this statement goes along with the subject of yesterday's devotion:  love believes all things.  We discussed how love chooses to see the best in people rather than assuming the worst.  Today, we'll see how love hopes the best for others in regards to their potential, state of being and future.

When the Bible uses the word "hope," it is not talking about the hope we tend to think of.  We hope it doesn't rain.  We hope we get the promotion.  We hope we can find a good parking spot.  We hope.  We desire.  We wish.  There is no real substance to it.

In contrast, the hope of the Bible refers to a confident expectation of things to come.  It goes far beyond wishing.  It expects.  It sees the possible outcome no matter the current circumstances.  So, when Paul states that love hopes all things, he is telling us that love sees beyond what is now and positively looks forward to what can be.

We see this in the dedicated wife who prays fifteen years for her husband's salvation.  Day after day, she lifts him up in prayer, never wavering.  Never losing hope.  Confident that God will answer her prayer because the Bible says that He isn't willing that any should perish.  The loving wife holds fast to God's promise and continues in her prayers even when it seems they are having no effect.

We see love hoping all things in the precious parents who cry tears and pray prayers over their child who has gone astray.  Things look grim.  The child seemingly shows no remorse for his/her actions and no desire to set things right.  The parents could give up.  They could throw up their hands and say, "Well, we've tried to reason with him, but it's not helping."  They could disown the child.  But love holds fast.  It continues to believe that the day is coming when the prodigal will return.  Love doesn't lose hope.

Love does not understand the words "failure" or "impossible."  It never writes someone off as a lost cause, no matter how much evidence there may be to back it up.  Instead, it offers grace and encouragement to others in order to reach the expected outcome.  It never condemns but always uplifts.

Love hopes all things.  It looks forward expectantly.  It stays positive.  It looks beyond what is and sees the possibilities ahead.  And it does its part to help achieve those possibilities.  When it comes to love, our battle cry should be, "Never give up!  Never surrender!"  Good things happen when we don't lose hope.