Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13 (NASB)
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and reliable and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us. – Hebrews 6:19-20a (NASB)
This week’s reflections will focus on “Hope.” Hope in Christ is not fragile or uncertain, but the confident expectation grounded in the unchanging character of God. When we place our trust in Him, we discover that His promises hold fast, even when everything around us may feel like it’s sinking. In times of struggle, this hope becomes our anchor – steadying our hearts and keeping us secure in His love.
I’ve faced seasons in life that tested everything within me. Yet through each trial, I’ve seen God’s power, His faithfulness, and His deeply committed love. God has never failed me. Because of that, I live with a confident expectation that just as He has been with me before, God will be with me through whatever lies ahead.
The image of an anchor in Hebrews 6:19 carries special meaning for me. My husband, Jeff, used to build anchors for boats that had to hold steady on the Rock River. Like its name, the riverbed is rocky. Jeff designed his anchors specifically understanding that the current could be strong and unpredictable and the bed would be hard to grab hold of. The anchor had to grip something solid beneath the surface, something odd-shaped and unmoving, to keep the boat secure.
That’s exactly what hope in Christ does for our souls. When life’s waters grow rough and the current threatens to pull us away, our hope reaches down beneath the surface of circumstances and takes hold of the Rock – Christ Himself! He’s the sure foundation, the steadfast presence who holds us firm no matter what storms come.
Because Jesus has already gone before us – into the very presence of God – we can trust that our future is secure. Hope in Him is not about denying the waves; it’s about knowing the anchor will hold.
As we trust Him, we find a quiet joy and peace that rises above our understanding. This is the miracle of hope: not only that it keeps us steady, but that it overflows – which allows us to become a light to others around us that the same God who anchors us can also anchor them.