They that fear you will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in your word. Psm 119:74 There is a fellowship among believers through the unity of the Holy Spirit and Word,

I came before the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in your word. Psm 119:147 hope is a positive expectation.     The Word is full of our Lord`s promises and so inspires positive expectations.

I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in his word do I hope. Psm 130:5 His Word is our hope.     faith and trust in it enables us to wait patiently for His return.

You have likely heard the term, `wishful thinking`.   It is a derogatory term implying that the person is hoping for something that will not come to pass.   

Since hope is a positive expectation there is some benefit to `wishful thinking`.   It bouys the heart giving energy to our bodies.   

But eventually False Hope will backfire on the person who is merely wishing for something that will not come to pass.   Such a person will lose their hope and be cast down suffering not only from not receiving the object of their hope but also from the shame of having hoped foolishly.   

Our hope must be in the Lord.   But, more specifically, it must be in the Word of the Lord.   
To wish is actually a pagan act because it trusts in some other God than the God of the Bible.   

God defines the parameters and boundaries of that for which we may reasonably hope in His Word.   

You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts. Jam 4:3 Carnal Minded believers will likely be petty and selfish in their requests.

James speaks about asking for, and so hoping for, things that, should God provide them, would violate His Word which expresses His will.   

In the case where a person is asking amiss, they would necessarily be operating in False Hope for the thing that is asked.   

There is a common statement among Christians: `there is power in prayer`.   Jesus Himself said `ask and receive`.   But Jesus also said that we must `have faith in God` and that when we pray we must `believe that we receive`.   

So, asking (praying) alone is not sufficient.   We must do as James said.   

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Jam 5:15 Asking is necessary Mat 7:8.      Believing is critical Mar 11:24.      When we ask in faith we receive Mar 11:24.      For the sick to be saved is for them to be made whole.      Sickness and sin are closely connected.     When a person comes to Christ Jesus in faith they are made whole - in their Spirit Soul And Body.

But where does faith come from?   

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of the Lord. Rom 10:17 We are only able to obtain the Faith Of Christ by hearing, believing and receiving His Words.     When we do, He makes us free in the New Birth and gives us His Holy Spirit who takes the Word we know and adds power to it enabling us to do the works that Christ did.      We are totally dependent on reaching people through the Word Of The Lord.     It is the Truth.     It is revelation, It is salvation, It is victory, It is peace, It is love.     It is joy in the Holy Spirit.

And so we make full circle back to that which David spoke in Psm 119:74 Psm 119:147 and Psm 130:5 .   

Our hope must be in accord with the Word Of God so that our prayers will be in accord with the Word Of God.   

In so doing we will never experience the shame of False Hope.   Rather we will see our hope come to pass.