Hope
The Anchor of Our Hope
Have you ever questioned whether God is trustworthy? I know I have.
At times, my circumstances have challenged my belief that God is reliable.
I want to believe that God is at work even when I cannot see what He’s doing. I want to have confidence that God keeps His promises. But the waiting, difficult circumstances, and conflict can stir doubt rather than strengthen hope.
Sometimes what I believe and what I see don’t seem to line up.
Yes, I believe God is faithful, and He keeps His promises. But if I’m honest, there have been times in my life when I’ve asked: “Where are You God?”
My circumstances have a way of overshadowing my hope. And I’ve been reflecting on a question:
When life is hard, what gives me reason to keep hoping?
Peter wrote to fellow believers who understood what it meant for life to be difficult and uncertain. He begins his letter with these words:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…”
– 1 Peter 1:3 (ESV)
I’m drawn to those two words: living hope.
Peter doesn’t tell his readers to look at their circumstances and search for reasons to feel more hopeful. He points them toward something God has already done.
Jesus Christ has risen from the dead.
Our hope is not anchored in the belief that life will become easier.
It isn’t anchored in my ability to understand what God is doing. And it certainly isn’t anchored in my ability to manufacture hope on my own.
Our hope—in every circumstance—is anchored in the risen Christ.
Our hope is living because Jesus is alive.
That doesn’t mean the circumstances around us will always feel secure. Sometimes they feel anything but secure. But the writer of Hebrews gives us another picture of hope:
“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope…”
– Hebrews 6:19 (ESV)
I like the image of an anchor.
An anchor doesn’t keep the storm from coming. It doesn’t calm the wind or stop the waves.
It holds when everything around us is moving.
That doesn’t mean we will always understand what God is doing.
There will be times when what we believe and what we see don’t seem to line up. There may be moments when we wonder: “Where are You, God?”
But hope doesn’t require an answer to every question.
Hope anchors me when the answers aren’t clear.
My circumstances can—and will—change. What I see today may look very different tomorrow. But my circumstances cannot change the reality of Christ’s resurrection.
Jesus is alive.
And because He lives, I have reason to hope.
Perhaps the question isn’t whether difficult circumstances will challenge our hope. They will. The question is:
Where will I anchor my hope when they do?
So, as you move through this week, notice those moments when circumstances begin to overshadow your hope. When they do, remember:
My changing circumstances do not define my hope.
Jesus lives. My hope is anchored in Him.
If you’re walking through circumstances that are challenging your hope, we’d be glad to hear from you. It would be a privilege for us to pray for you.
May the risen Christ steady your heart and anchor your hope in every circumstance.
May you have a blessed week.
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