Hope: Our Soul's Anchor
Photo image courtesy Teri Gasser
“. . . 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.” – Hebrews 6:18-19
My son-in-law hoped their new daughter would arrive in 2025 so he would get a tax credit. But instead, she came after her January 1st due date. I had hoped to have this devotional written before my trip to visit my newest granddaughter, but despite several searches through my email, I missed the assignment. So, now I’m writing at my daughter’s home as my grandchildren play upstairs. We often speak of hope in the sense of wishfulness. But the hope God provides isn’t a maybe kind of wishful thinking.
The Lord forged an anchor of hope for our souls. I remember, as a small child, standing next to massive steel anchors from Navy ships. It seems every base my dad was stationed at had an anchor planted somewhere on the grounds. Many of the anchors I remember towered over my head like metal giants. Yet, man-made anchors, no matter how big, can fail. God’s anchor never fails because it’s constructed of two unchangeable elements: His Word and His work.
The Bible, God’s Word, reveals His plan to save us from the penalty of our sin. In the Bible, we read that God promised to send a Savior, and He did. He sent his Son, Jesus, to die in our place (1 Corinthians 15: 3–4). Jesus, with his arms spread open on the cross, cried, “It is finished.” This is our anchor.
Following Jesus is a lot like boarding a ship. We leave our old life behind and step onto a boat called Faith; then we launch into a new life. It doesn’t take long before waves of doubt slap against the hull or gales of difficulty blow across the deck. But God constructed our ship, Faith, with a great anchor of Hope. The hope we have in Jesus tethers our souls to Heaven.
We don’t know what joy or sorrows 2026 holds, but we do know Jesus holds us. He will carry us through. He will weep and laugh with us. He will hear every prayer. He will be present even if we lose sight of Him. Our hope assures us that when our souls sail into the haven of Heaven, all our trials and tears will be a drop in a faraway ocean.
Questions for Reflection:
1. What Bible promise encourages you?
2. Have you shared those verses with anyone lately?
3. Who can you give hope to today?
