OUR ANCHOR
There is nothing magical about changing the calendar to a new year. We are now on the starting line of new hopes and dreams. Everyone makes new years resolutions. A few months in, we can’t remember what we had told ourselves we were going to do and make excuses why we had not achieved those we can remember. We get busy-life happens-our focus is off our resolutions and we realize that our resolutions are not as easy as we had hoped. Did we make resolutions that we really did not have hope, that we would actually attain?
In Hebrews 6:19, we are told that “…hope is an anchor of the soul. Both sure and steadfast, which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” This verse tells me that my hope should only be in Jesus. He gave His life for us on the cross, shedding His blood so that we have the hope of heaven. This anchor is not in the sand. It is not in earthly goals. It is sure-will not cause us to sink. Jesus is “behind the veil” which means Jesus is with God, in the dwelling place of God. That is the only hope that is secure.
The only hope for our future is living our lives for the Lord and one day we will go to live with Him in heaven, if we have served Him through obedience. We can’t have hope in this world and the people who live here. At times this world lets us down, even when we are doing good. We get tired and want to quit. But God tells us to “…let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” We don’t have to see the results of our good deeds. We don’t have to be recognized by this world. This world’s recognition is not the important thing. Doing good deeds, recognized or not, brings us even closer to our eternal home of heaven.
What if we feel like we don’t know what to do and we don’t know how to reach our goal, our purpose, for our lives? Romans 15:13 says “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” God is never too early or too late. He is always right on time. We need to live our lives with the hope and assurance that God has a plan, a purpose, for our lives. We just need to continue doing good and maybe in that happening, God is working through that trial or through that other person that we are praying for, to accomplish that hope in our lives. God tells us that we need to have joy and peace in believing that whatever our future holds, we know who holds that future. Our hope comes through searching the scriptures and filling ourselves up with the Holy Spirit by putting those scriptures into action. We have to hold onto our faith and the hope that God is going to provide us with the “instruments” we need to have, so we can accomplish that hope we have, if it is according to His will. Maybe it is not the time in our lives that is best for us to accomplish a plan we have for our future.
A few years ago, my daughter and son in law, wanted to foster children. They took the courses. Fixed their home to welcome a child in. They got the call that there was a fifteen-year-old girl that needed placement in a home. She came and seemed to “fit” in well. My daughter felt like they were helping her along her journey. But then something happened, that my daughter and son-in-law realized she was not going to be able to stay with them. A few months later, my daughter found out she was pregnant. This season in their lives, was not in the plans God have for them. There will come a day they will foster. They have giving hearts. But it will be the right timing in God’s plans for them.
Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you says the Lord, thought of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
When a person feels hopeless, they don’t have anything to hold onto when the trials come into their lives. Maybe that is why having a new year’s resolution is so important to them. They need a visible tangible happening. But then what happens when their resolution is not fulfilled or forgotten? They have nothing. When we believe in God’s goals for us and hope for them, then we can be assured of a good year ahead. May not be what we have in our earthly vision but God has a better vision-future for us. That is where and by whom we have our hope. The assurance that God is always there for us and we can have a firm hope in Him.
Sure, make goals for yourself for this new year! But don’t just put your hope in that goal. If it is a goal that is to be accomplished, be sure that it is in God’s will not your own. We cannot see what God is doing for our good. Maybe you are to be a part of hope for someone else! Maybe your unseen goal is to minister to someone-pray for someone-find a silver lining of hope for someone else-be there with your shoulder to cry on. During the hard times, I have had so many people who helped me through that and reminded me of the hope I have in God’s goodness. But many of those people have gone to be with the Lord or have moved away. What if I am to be that person now, to give others hope?
Don’t be hard on yourself if you have forgotten or have not fulfilled your goal for 2022 already. God has a plan for you that is so much more important than these earthly goals and hopes we promise ourselves on January 1 of each year. Remember, we need to put our hope in God’s goodness not in ourselves to fulfill those goals-that hope!
Have you already forgotten or have chosen not to continue, what you promised on January 1? That is ok! Just don’t forget obedience and our promised hope, should be in God. He will help you find your hope for your future! He is our anchor!
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Till next time!
Keela