In his Daily Study Bible series, William Barclay recounts a story about the Irish Bible commentator Adam Clarke.

As Barclay tells it, Clarke struggled in school as a boy. One day, a distinguished guest visited, and the teacher singled out Adam, saying, “That is the stupidest boy in the school.”

Before leaving, the visitor approached Adam and kindly encouraged him, saying,  “Never mind, my boy, you may be a great scholar some day. Don’t be discouraged but try hard, and keep on trying.”

Barclay contrasts the teacher’s hopeless assessment with the visitor’s hopeful encouragement, suggesting that those words may have helped Clarke become the scholar he eventually was.

This story echoes Paul’s description in 1 Corinthians 13:7 that “love always hopes.”

The verb translated “hopes” is elpizō, related to the noun elpis. W. E. Vine describes New Testament hope as a “favorable and confident expectation”—“the happy anticipation of good.” This hope appears prominently in the New Testament. It speaks to our hope in Christ, the resurrection, and eternal life.

But here, hopeful love is directed toward relationships with people as well as God’s redemptive work. Love sees possibility where others see finality. When the situation seems hopeless, our deep and abiding love means that “hope springs eternal in the human breast,” as the British poet Alexander Pope put it.

In his Bible Study Textbook commentary on 1 Corinthians, Paul Butler explains that love still hopes when confidence has been disappointed. He writes, “When love is disappointed in someone in whom it ‘believed,’ love will yet hope for better things.”

Butler reminds us that love doesn’t deny the obvious or pretend that a thief is honest or a guilty person innocent. Rather, love still hopes for repentance and a changed, better life.

We see this kind of love in Jesus’ interactions with people who sinned. The woman in Simon’s house (Lk. 7). The woman taken in adultery (Jn. 8). And His own apostle Peter, who denied Him (Lk. 22:54–62).

Jesus anticipated Peter’s failure, yet also spoke of his return and his future work strengthening his brethren (Lk. 22:31–32). He saw possibilities in people whom others had dismissed.

Hopeful love doesn’t throw caution to the wind. It still exercises good judgment.

Matthew Henry observes, “Wisdom may dwell with love, and charity be cautious.” He means love doesn’t believe every report or abandon discernment. It seeks a favorable understanding of another person’s conduct as far as the evidence reasonably permits.

Unfading hope doesn’t overlook, excuse, or whitewash sin. We can correct someone, recognize consequences, and exercise caution while still hoping, praying, and working for his restoration.

Commentator Albert Barnes explains that even when appearances are troubling, love hopes that matters can be clarified and another person’s conduct fairly explained. It holds that hope as long as an honest explanation remains possible.

So, when you hear something troubling about a brother or sister in Christ, do you hope the report is mistaken? And if it is true, do you hope and pray for their restoration?

Sometimes the troubling report is true. The failure is real. Yet love still hopes for repentance, growth, and restoration.

Love wants another person’s goodness to prevail. It takes no satisfaction in having its worst suspicions proved right.

Love knows no fading of its hope even when:

• Our best friend has let us down.
• Our children have disappointed us.
• Our spouse has been unkind or inconsiderate.
• Our church family has failed to bear our burden.
• Our family has been forgetful or neglectful.
• Our neighbor has been rude.

Love doesn’t give up or assume that today’s disappointment will last forever. As Enduring Word commentator David Guzik writes, “It hopes for the best, and it hopes in God.”

Guzik explains that when love is hurt, it resists concluding that the situation will always remain the same or inevitably grow worse. Love doesn’t give up and say, “He’ll never change” or “There’s no use trying.”

Love doesn’t surrender to hopelessness. Love keeps encouraging, praying, teaching, and seeking reconciliation.

This is a tall order. It goes against our grain. And is contrary to our human nature. Only as we learn from God’s enduring, patient, and merciful love—and put it into practice—can we develop this hopeful love.

As J. B. Phillips expresses it, love knows “no fading of its hope.”

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman