Hope as a virtue is not wishful thinking but confident expectation. It is rooted in the character of God, secured by the resurrection of Christ, and sustained by the indwelling Spirit. Bishop Stephen Leung (ANiC, Diocese of Western Canada and Alaska) explains, “Hope is the forward gaze of faith. It believes that God’s promises are truer than our pain, and His kingdom is nearer than our fears.” (Faithful in the Waiting, 2022)

This virtue gives strength in suffering and perseverance in difficulty. Fr. Isaac Rehberg (ACNA, All Saints San Antonio, TX) writes, “Hope does not deny grief or pain—it refuses to let them have the last word. It clings to the cross and the empty tomb and says, ‘God is not finished.’” (Living Between the Advents, 2021)

Hope is formed through worship, prayer, and immersion in Scripture. It grows when we remember God’s past faithfulness and anticipate His future redemption. Canon George Grant (ACNA, Parish Presbyterian Church, TN) notes, “Hope is the antidote to despair. It rises when the soul is trained to look up rather than within.” (Recovering Anglican Piety, 2019)

In Anglican worship, hope is embedded in the rhythm of the Church calendar and in daily liturgy. Every prayer, creed, and hymn calls us to lift our eyes to the coming glory of Christ. Fr. Matthew Munn (ACNA, Church of the Redeemer, NC) observes, “The Church forms hopeful people by proclaiming what is certain in uncertain times. Hope looks to the end—and so lives faithfully in the present.” (Catechesis of Resurrection Faith, 2022)

Bishop Charlie Masters (ANiC, Diocese of the Living Word) adds, “Christian hope is not grounded in circumstance but in a Person. Jesus Christ is our hope. And because He lives, our hope will never be put to shame.” (Hope That Anchors the Soul, 2023)