In the midst of a year characterized by uncertainty, let’s take the month of August to anchor ourselves in a hope that does not disappoint. Our circumstances may ebb and flow or may completely rock us, but in Christ we are securely anchored by hope.
A few years ago I was listening to a friend of mine give a sermon on the topic of hope. I was sitting in the cry room with a toddler messing about at my feet and an active infant in my lap. My preschooler was in the sanctuary with my husband, but he had spotted me through the cry room window and was clearly negotiating to join me there. Given the chaos around me, I will admit I now recall few details of that sermon. But one moment stands out. While straining to listen over the babbling of the children literally crawling over me, I heard my friend Brandon pause and ask directly, “What do you hope in?” No joke, clear as a bell something in me responded, “Bedtime. My hope is in bedtime.”
True Hope
I chuckled, outloud, because it was somewhat true. I would find myself multiple times a day with frayed nerves thinking, “It’s all going to be okay. In a few hours, they will go to bed, and I will be okay.” I was in the thick of the “short years / long days” season, and though I actually missed the kids when they were sleeping soundly, I also desperately needed the quiet time to collect myself. And yet, on the way home from Church that morning, I knew there was more to it than an introvert’s need for a few minutes of silence.
“When all feels chaotic, when I am afraid that I am failing them at every turn, when I am not sure how to comfort three of them at once,” I asked myself, “is my hope in bedtime? Or am I resting right then in the blessed assurance that the God of the Universe is right here with me? He knows exactly what is needed.” Am I missing the opportunity to be securely anchored by a true hope?
Grounded
Am I white-knuckled clinging to my to-do list? Or am I looking to the Holy Spirit for in-the-moment guidance? Am I holding my breath until the circumstances change? Or am I abiding in the life-giving breath of God, Who calms the storms and stills the winds? This summer, is my sense of hope tied to my confidence in our leaders, to graphs of reported data, or to the One who reigns forever?
As people, our hope can easily become tied to the ever-changing circumstances around us. But as Believers, our hope is rightly grounded in Who God is. It flourishes when we focus our hearts on Him. He is good, righteous, sovereign, and faithful. Our hope rests in the knowledge that He is making all things new. He is making us into the likeness of Christ and reconciling us to one another in the Spirit.
Anchored, Firm and Secure
The author of Hebrews tells us that we may be encouraged because, “we have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” (Hebrews 6:19a, NIV). We have this anchor of hope, he says, because Christ entered behind the temple curtain into the Most Holy Place ushering those washed in His blood into the presence of God (Hebrews 6:19-20, Hebrews 9:1-14, Matthew 27:50-51). That’s the game-changer. His blood and righteousness mean I have access to the throne of God. That’s hope.
Do you know how an anchor works? An anchor is substantial, heavy and solid, sinking into the seabed. It becomes even more effective when resistance is applied. When a force pulls against the anchor, it is designed to dig deeper, becoming more secure. Thus grounded, an anchor protects a boat from drifting away or from crashing into nearby rocks.
Friends, I may have read more news in the past five months than I did in the previous decade. And it certainly is prudent to know what’s happening around us. Let’s check our anchor, though. Where is our hope? I love this sentence from a boating article titled “How to Anchor Securely:” “We know of no way to ensure that your anchor will hold other than by pulling on it hard.” Pull hard, and be assured. Hope anchored in Christ holds true. Join us in a month-long blog series as we explore what it means to be Anchored by Hope.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13
This is a beautiful reminder to always be aware of the Source of our hope. The line “Am I holding my breath until the circumstances change? Or am I abiding in the life-giving breath of God, Who calms the storms and stills the winds?” especially spoke to me, as I’ve noticed lately I do tend to not breathe freely when I am stressed or worried. The image of “abiding int he life-giving breath of God” makes me breathe in deeply, imagining God’s peace filling my whole being. Thank you for sharing your insights and encouragement.