The Bible says that ‘hope deferred makes the heart sick’ (Prov.13:12). The absence of hope is closely linked to the downward spiral of depression. Sadly, hope is often taken away from us because it is based on the decisions of others or on circumstances outside of our control. But the Bible offers hope which is not based on any of these things. Hope is a vital ingredient to the Christian life and is therefore a major theme in the Bible.