In conversations every day, everywhere, people express their desires. “I hope I get to go on vacation.” “I hope I don’t lose my job.” “I hope that I get married.”
In our world, the word “hope” is used to describe a sort of wish, a “maybe-it-will-happen, maybe-it-won’t” kind of thing. This worldly hope is no hope at all—but hope in Christ is a firm and secure anchor for the soul.
Hebrews 6:19 describes the hope we have in Christ. “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”
The soul, according to the biblical definition, is the mind, the will, and the emotions. An anchor serves to hold a boat firmly. Therefore, when the winds of life are blowing, and the waves are rolling, and circumstances with your purpose and life aren’t going how you planned, hope in God is an anchor to keep your mind, your will, and your emotions steady.
There is, however, a very interesting thing about having one’s mind, will, and emotions anchored into the hope that is Christ.
If you believe you have no anchor, even though you do, you will respond as if the wind and waves of life are overtaking you and that you are perishing. When you could have peace, you’ll be panicking. When you could be resting, you’ll be fretting. When you could have hope, you’ll be hopeless. Even though God has said that you have a firm and secure hope, you will respond like you have no anchor. Sometimes, we only receive the benefits of faith by believing in faith.
In my early-twenties, I went through a season of internal unrest. Jesus was—and is—and will always be, my anchor. But because I doubted God, I experienced everything I would have as if I had no anchor: fear, anxiety, and panic which all come with unbelief.
In the book of Mark, Jesus was in a boat with the disciples. He was sleeping in the stern on a cushion when a furious wind began. Terrified, the disciples woke him and said, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” They panicked. Jesus rebuked the waves and said, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
The disciples had The Anchor in their boat, but when the wind came, they panicked and acted like they didn’t. There are some things that God has given that are undeniably yours, but you will only experience the joy and peace of knowing they are yours by believing.
What are you going through? Are you experiencing the wind and waves of a divorce, a lost job, an estranged child? Is your vision blurry and your purpose uncertain? You have a hope, steady and secure. If you belong to Christ, you are tethered to Christ. He is your Anchor. Know it, believe it—and experience rest.
Additional Resources
The Blueprint for Life eight week curriculum will help you understand how to live your life on purpose! The study contains a life-planning workbook and ten audio messages featuring Andy Stanley, Louie Giglio, Tony Evans, John Maxwell and others. Now available for digital download. Click here to check it out!
