Third, a key goal of reading the Bible is to produce hope. In everyday English, the word hope often has a note of uncertainty. We might look at dark clouds in the sky and say, “I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow.” But in Scripture, hope refers to our faith-fueled expectation that what God promises, he will do. Earlier, in Romans 8:23–25, Paul put it like this: And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons,