“Closely associated with having faith is what Jacob calls ‘obtaining a hope in Christ.’ … His phrase of ‘obtaining a hope’ is more than just having ‘hope’ and seems to be the assurance or testimony that one has reached a particular state or spiritual condition and a special relationship with the Lord. … In all, the word hope appears 50 times in the Book of Mormon and is used by eight different prophets. Jacob, however, is unique in using it in the sense of obtaining ‘a hope,’ which is an achievement of something beyond simply ‘hoping’” (Matthews, “Jacob,” 49–50).
Why is it that the Lord “showeth us our weakness”? (4:7) Elder Neal A. Maxwell observed: “One thing is clear: in stressful situations, our deficiencies become more obvious [Jacob 4:7 and Ether 12:27 are quoted]. Difficulties sometimes put our deficiencies on display; it is then that we must be especially humble if we are to be made strong subsequently” (Wherefore, Ye Must Press Forward, 66).