How do we know "hope does not disappoint"?

As many of you know, Romans 5:3-5 is one of my foundational verses. 

Romans 5:3-5(NKJV)

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 

and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Those verses are a success formula for life and it is all based on hope. So the question becomes, how can we be certain that if we take joy in our tribulations and all of that, that we will not be disappointed by hope?

One of the great things about being in Scripture on a regular basis and letting the Holy Spirit lead is that you find out the answer to questions like this.  Here is why you can have certainty in your hope.

Hebrews 6:17-20(NKJV)

Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 

that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 

where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

God promised it in Romans and as Hebrews says, "it is impossible for God to lie".  It also takes us a bit deeper regarding the purpose of the hope being talked about here.  It is to be "….an anchor to the soul, both sure and steadfast,…."

While faith and hope aren't the same thing, they seem to be cousins, metaphorically speaking.  (Sorry, I don't get to use big words like that often  :)

What I mean by that is I think you can have faith without hope, initially.  Many people come to know Jesus when they reach a low in their life, when they are without hope.  But once you have Jesus in your life and you develop that relationship I think hope should be a natural result of that.  As you learn about God's promises and claim them as your own, because Scripture tells us that "we are heirs with Christ", then how could you not be hopeful???