People by nature are hopers. Hope can make us optimistic. But there is a difference in human optimism and Christian hope. Human optimism can cloud itself by unrealistic expectations that may not be met. Christian hope realizes that earthly hopes and dreams may not come true. When they don't, those of us with Christian hope know that God has a place in heaven waiting for us. That is the hope that drives Christians through all our met and unmet expectations of this world. It is a fact that Christians know that they are sinners, and there is no hope in this world, except through the grace and forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ.