When Hope Feels Foolish

“They will say, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.’” —2 Peter 3:4 (ESV)

Hope feels like a limited commodity these days.

When life goes as expected, hope comes easily. But lately, my longing for a peaceful world feels less like hopeful expectation and more like wishful thinking.

To cling to hope in a world that demonstrates disrespect and hate isn’t easy—and can even feel foolish.  How long do we have to wait before we are rescued from problems?

Currently, our government is shut down. Unwilling to bend, political parties seem more interested in blaming than mending, demanding than resolving, resisting than reconciling. These standoffs don’t breed hope—they fuel cynicism. And when cynicism creeps in, faith begins to wobble. 

So, how can we cling to hope when time drags on, prayers seem unanswered, and the promises of God feel distant or delayed? 

When Hope Feels Foolish

Peter writes to believers wrestling with that same tension. They’ve heard for years that Christ will return, that justice will come, that renewal is certain. Yet time passes, the world grows darker, and scoffers appear, laughing at the very idea of divine intervention.

“Where is the promise of His coming?” was—and remains an honest question. It wasn’t just mockery; it was the ache of disappointment, the cry of those wondering if God had forgotten.

Peter’s audience had heard the message that Christ would return. However, in Peter’s day—and ours—mockery often masks despair. When hope seems unrealistic, the world responds with sarcasm. 

But God’s silence is not absence, and His delay is not neglect.

God’s Timing Is Redemptive, Not Random

Peter confronts the scoffers by drawing their attention to God’s timeline, not theirs. He writes, “With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (v. 8)

I’ll admit—I have a problem. God is not nearly as fast as I am! If it were up to me, I would want to rectify my despair—“yesterday.” Why wait when God could correct my world (and discomfort) “today?”

But my dilemma is not a math problem to be solved (why does God take a thousand years when He could resolve it in a day?). I need a perspective shift that sees God differently. God isn’t slow; He’s patient. Every moment of delay is an act of mercy, extending the opportunity for repentance. 

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should reach repentance.” (v. 9)

If you’ve ever wondered why God doesn’t intervene sooner—why He doesn’t stop the corruption, the injustice, or the heartbreak—Peter’s answer is stunning in its simplicity: 

Because God loves people too much to give up on them yet.

The Certainty of Christ’s Return

While scoffers mock and believers wait, Peter assures us that the Day of the Lord will come—suddenly and decisively. “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief…” (v. 10)

When hope seems to slowly slip from my grip, I need to remember: God’s promises are not forgotten—they are unfolding. And when He acts, it won’t be subtle. Everything false, corrupt, and temporary will be burned away, making room for the new heavens and new earth “where righteousness dwells.” (v. 13)

That day will not catch God off guard. It will complete His plan. That’s not meant to terrify us—it’s meant to steady us. It’s the hope that allows us to live faithfully in a world that laughs at faith.

Living Hopefully in a Cynical Age

Peter doesn’t want believers merely to wait for heaven—he calls them to live like heaven is already shaping their hearts. “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness?” (v. 11) In other words:

The promise of His coming should shape the posture of our living.

We hold hope not as escapists, but as witnesses. Our anticipation of Christ’s return makes us more invested in this world, not less. Every act of love, truth, and mercy points to the coming Kingdom.

A Modern Parallel

Our culture prizes immediacy. We expect everything fast—answers, justice, recognition, change. When God doesn’t move on our timeline, it’s easy to assume He’s forgotten. But Peter’s words remind us: delay is not denial.

God’s patience is the stage on which redemption plays out. The same God who fulfilled His promises in the resurrection will fulfill His promise in the restoration. When hope feels foolish, we remember: Christ is not late. He’s preparing eternity.

We don’t need to match the world’s cynicism. We live with quiet confidence that God’s promises still hold, His patience still saves, and His plan is still unfolding.

When the world mocks hope, we don’t retreat—we embody it. Because our hope has a name, and His name is Jesus.

Reflect

1. Where in your life does hope feel delayed or uncertain right now?

2. How does remembering God’s patience change your perspective on His timing?

3. What does it look like to live “holy and godly” as you wait for His return? 4. How can your life today point others toward the hope of a world “where righteousness dwells”?