God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:17-20a (NLT)
For Reflection:
A tense situation. An awkward conversation. A conflict with someone you care about. Others arguing with one another. The moment you discover you made a mistake. Where to turn? How to steady yourself again?
Any of these unexpected situations can throw us. When this happens, do we remain steady as we continue along? Or do we tend to be thrown off—swept into the current and chaos…sideswiped? Maybe sometimes even take ourselves out of action (for a time)? Or do we continue forward, focused. Not unaffected—but at peace, unswerving yet still bendable – like a tree that moves in the wind without snapping and returns upright. I think of Jesus in the boat amid the storm… winds raging, disciples panicking… He simply wakes up (on demand!), rebukes the storm, and continues the journey, teaching as they go (Luke 8:22-25; Mark 4:35-40).
As you consider these or other circumstances that bring angst to your days, life… reflect on this: What is the first thing you think of… or instinctively do when things press in? A place to go… looking to something that brings comfort, helps us feel better in the moment (or look forward to…) or to avoid or escape?
The Bible calls these things or places “strongholds:” where we go for refuge, to feel secure.
As you read our passage, did you notice these words: “we who have fled to him for refuge"?! Do you see the invitation? If we skip over these words to land on to the wonderful promise of great confidence holding to hope… we end up focusing on our holding (or efforts) and fly past the picture of Jesus lovingly holding us (His mercy and grace, freely given)! We don’t want to miss the invitation to first reflect and recognize where we instinctively turn for refuge… and ponder Him as our strong and trustworthy, sure and steadfast (ESV) anchor for our souls… His promise that will not, cannot change.
Where is my hope? Where is yours? As we strive in our strength to hold on to hope, we risk missing the better part… Jesus holds us! We hold to Him as we are securely held. Can you picture that?
Jesus invites us to find safety and anchor in Him. To allow ourselves to be held by our strong, sovereign, loving, powerful Savior, as the winds and waves of life push against us… letting Him steady us: our hearts, minds… thoughts…words…actions, emotions. An anchor for our soul.
Anchoring in hope—firmly in Jesus—looks like Jesus in the storm: steady, present, at peace, bringing His calm to those around Him, and pointing toward faith as the source for peace.
Let us pray:
Lord, you are holy, faithful, and true to your promises! You don’t change your mind! Thank you for being steadfast, that you never change—that you offer us a firm foundation, a trustworthy anchor for our soul, our lives. Much in our world sometimes feels in constant flux, shifting to and fro. Thank you for your word, your promise, that assures us you are steady and invites us to flee to YOU for refuge – in life’s storms and in every day. Lord, help me to see other places I sometimes run or hide to feel safe and help me to turn instead to you, holding to the hope that lies before us in and through You! To anchor my hope and heart securely in You and to trust you are strong; you are present; and that you are holding me no matter what comes my way. Help increase my awareness when I begin to shift my anchor from you. You are a good, good God. My loving Savior. Help me to believe your word and to trust you who goes before us and is with us every step, every breath. I love you. In your holy, strong, steadfast name I pray. Amen.
I wonder what it would be like to remain tethered to Jesus in such a way that my first response is to check my anchor?
If I look now, what (or who) is my hope anchored in?