In the Christian’s armor, hope is the helmet (1 Thessalonians 5:6). Its purpose, therefore, is to protect your mind. Whether or not your helmet is on your head is determined by you. A helmet does not automatically or magically crown a soldier’s head; it must be intentionally and purposefully placed there. For hope to function in your life as God intends for it to, you must intentionally and purposefully incorporate hope into your thinking and outlook on life.
In Scripture, hope is not wishful thinking. It does not embrace the utopic foolishness of universal social justice on this earth; it looks at life realistically. Its enduring optimism about the future, which will anchor your soul during the tsunamis of life, springs from God’s promises and His immutable character, not personal presumption.
In Psalms 60, 61, and 62, David demonstrates the value and blessing of a lively hope in the midst of life’s trials. When facing defeat (Psalm 60:1), when feeling overwhelmed (Psalm 61:2), when under attack by evildoers (Psalm 62:3), David’s helmet of hope protected him from stinking thinking. By girding up the loins of his mind and resting his hope fully upon God’s grace, he triumphantly persevered through the darkest hours of his life.
This spiritual helmet still does the same thing today (1 Peter 1:13).
