What does it mean to hope for what we do not see (Romans 8:25)?

The Holy Spirit is at work in the lives of believers today, but the completion of His work lies in the future (Romans 8:17–30). This suggests that a glorious reality lies ahead for Christians, which they cannot presently see with their eyes. So, when Paul writes, “we hope for what we do not see” (Romans 8:25, NKJV), he is teaching that Christians can be confident that God will fulfill His promises in His timing, even though they cannot yet see them.

Even though God is presently at work in the world and in the lives of believers, life for Christians today is full of suffering, as it is for the rest of creation (Romans 8:18–23). What is seen right now is pain and anguish. If life only consisted of what people can see in the present, hopelessness would abound because sin has corrupted the world. Thankfully, Christians do not put their hope in a sinful world that cannot satisfy (1 John 2:15––17).

The hope of Christians—secured at salvation—is for a glorious future according to God’s design. Paul writes, “For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?” (Romans 8:24, NKJV). Christians should not have confidence in anything in this world that they can see because what is seen is not hope. Accordingly, if believers put their hope in what they do not see, they must be patient until it is fulfilled.

Regarding application, Paul says at the end of Romans 8:25 that since Christians put their hope in an unseen future, they must “wait for it with perseverance” (NKJV). Waiting for God to fulfill their hope requires believers to be patient and have endurance. Patience is necessary because God will bring about the future in His timing, which can seem like a long time to His children (Habakkuk 2:3; Psalm 27:14). They must also have endurance because challenges will persist until Jesus returns and fulfills all hope (John 16:33; Matthew 24:12–13).

The Greek word translated as “hope” is a form of the verb elpizó. It means “to expect,” that is, to have confidence or certainty about a future reality. In other passages, English translations render the same Greek word as “trust” (e.g., 1 Corinthians 13:7; NIV). Since hope entails confidence, as faith does, the two ideas are closely related. For this reason, Hebrews 11:1 also provides insight into what patiently waiting for the future means: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1).

What Christians hope for is God’s restoration. For instance, earlier in the passage, Paul specifically mentions the redemption of our bodies: “Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:23; also see 2 Corinthians 5:2–5). The New Testament also mentions other aspects of a believer’s final hope, such as resurrection from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:42–54) and eternal life (John 11:25–26).

Those who know Jesus have assurance that their hope in God is not in vain. As Paul wrote to the Philippians, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Philippians 1:6). Because of Jesus, the promises of God that are unseen now will one day be made visible.