About the difference between hope in God and conviction that there is a God

The concept of hope, in a religious sense, has long been a struggle for me because I have had always the conviction that a) there is a God, b) there is a heaven and c) I'm going there when I die.

This is not because I'm 'good' enough but because God is. I've tried to be and do my best, and, even though I've failed many, many times, for which I am truly sorry, I believe that this is all that God asks from us.

Being brought up with very good values of what was right and wrong and being shown, by word and example, how to behave towards others was also an amazing benefit. So, believing that this is the best way to be happy in this world, it's been worth the effort.

(On a 'personal anxiety' level, I freely admit that I am also scared of 'being in the wrong' and of 'being told off', but not by God, of whom I've never been afraid, but by people. Also, I bother far too much about what people think of me so do want to be seen to be doing the 'right' thing.)

As I grew up and became aware of the anguish and suffering in the world, I used to think I couldn't bear it if I didn't believe that all this would be put right or made up for somehow, if not in this world, then in the next.

Recently though, I'm beginning to see why hope could be so important for people who don't have the certainty that I have (through no conscious effort on my part, but as a pure gift from my life's circumstances, I imagine).

If what I believe in is true, then every grief and sorrow, all struggles and sufferings, in fact "every tear", WILL be wiped away. Consolation will be given TO, and justice done FOR, everyone who has suffered. At the same time, justice WILL be done TO all who have caused suffering, in ways that our human minds cannot comprehend.

Surely it is worth hoping that this might be true. Isn't this better than closing our eyes and shutting down our hearts to the pain of the world or becoming hardened and teaching ourselves not to care.

I do hope so. If I never wrote another word, this is what I'd want my life's message to be.