“Hope” as a noun can mean an expectation or desire for something, an aspiration, or it can connote a feeling of trust. The verb reflects the action: to aspire, to to desire, to expect, to trust in.
We are interested in the biblical trust aspect of this word; a feeling of trust, to thus hope in something or someone.
There are lots of things and people to hope in for this and that, but it is all alike futility, because nothing is to be realized for the long haul by hoping in anything or anyone. By “for the long haul,” we mean on into eternity. Sure, a modicum of fulfilled hope may be realized here and there, but nothing lasting. If that is all one is looking for, so be it, enjoy it while it lasts. (But be careful to sin not; offend not Jehovah God in your merrymaking.)
Things, material things, waste away, and they may be a real headache along the way to boot. And people too waste away, and indeed may be a real headache along the way. Why hope in such bruised reeds for anything? The Ecclesiastes Preacher talked about these sorts of realities long ago. It makes sense to hope in things and people though, up front at least, because that is where we live and have our being down here in the land of the living, surrounded by things and people, things and people we can see, and touch, and appreciate to some extent, so we put hope in such for this and that, it just makes sense to do that. It is reality.
When misplaced hope fails, as inevitably it must, suddenly a new reality, even God, Jehovah God, becomes His elect’s hope. Dearest reader, please note that it is a sore judgment when misplaced hope lingers, or worse, fails not, on the one hand, and/or fails to usher in a new reality, even God, Jehovah God, as one’s new Hope, on the other hand. Why? Please consider the short video clip below coming from Jehovah’s Word in contemplation of that question. (“A Letter of Invitation” for more.)