Firm + Secure | Qualities of Women Who Trust Jesus

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” —Hebrews 6:19

Thousands of years before you and I were born lived an old man and his wife. They were foreigners in a tiny corner of the middle east. In a culture that determined a person’s value by how many sons they were able to produce, this man and his wife remained barren for many years.

Until God showed up.

The Lord appeared to Abraham and told him something that sounded completely ridiculous. He said that Abraham, who had NO children, would become the father of many nations. Years later, this word began to unfold when Isaac was born to Abraham and his wife, Sarah. But then, God said something else that seemed completely absurd. He told Abraham to take his son Isaac, travel to the top of a nearby mountain and sacrifice Isaac to the Lord on an alter. (What?!)

The very next day, Abraham obeyed. (Again, what?!) He took Isaac and the supplies up the mountain. When Isaac asked why they weren’t bringing a lamb with them for the sacrifice, Abraham told his son that God would provide the lamb. What a beautiful display of Abraham’s trust in the Lord. (For the full story, see Genesis 22:1-19)

God indeed provided an animal for the sacrifice that day, sparing Isaac’s life. After seeing Abraham’s obedience, God made an oath to fulfill His promise to Abraham.

Oaths were a foundational part of life in ancient middle eastern culture. They were more significant than superficial promises in that they were absolute; they could not be undone. Often, in order to symbolize the irreversible nature of the oath, a ritual of candle-burning or animal sacrifice would accompany the oath.

Typically, the person making an oath would swear by the gods or by a force of nature— something more powerful than themselves. A curious aspect of God’s oath to Abraham is that there was no higher power for him to swear by, so he swore by himself. This is what the author of the book of Hebrews is referring to in chapter 6. He explains why God made this oath to Abraham and why he swore by himself.

“God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…” (Hebrews 6:18-19).

God did this so that we would be encouraged! We can have certainty that God’s words will come to pass because of two “unchangeable things.”

1.) God cannot lie, so everything He says is true and will happen.

2.) On top of that, He made an oath so that people would know His words were irreversible.

The promise to Abraham was a promise of eternal salvation for Abraham’s descendants. It was a promise that through His bloodline, salvation would come to all the nations of the earth. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham, and He’s also the reason we can have confidence that our hope in God will never be disappointed.

So, what exactly is the hope that we have “as an anchor for the soul?” It’s our inheritance in Christ! It’s the certainty that one day, we will no longer strive for perfection but we will be made perfect once and for all. It’s the assurance that once these physical bodies give way, we will spend eternity with Jesus. No more tears, disappointment, sickness, fear, pain, or death.

Just peace.

Joy.

Complete contentment.

And a million other blessings.

“We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” (Hebrews 6:11-12)

He’s speaking to us in these verses, Sister. We are the ones who will be diligent to the very end. We are the ones who’s hope will be fully realized one day. We won’t be lazy but faithful to imitate those who have gone before us, patiently— actively— waiting to inherit what He’s promised us. We are full of anticipation for what lies ahead. Full of a HOPE that’s firm and secure. A hope that transforms us and becomes part of our identity. And because of this confident hope, we are secure.

For Your Journal

Find It:

In this portion of your journal, write out a Bible verse. You can find a verse that fits a current life situation or use the one we used in today’s devotion.

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” —Hebrews 6:19

Fix It:

In this portion of your journal, pull out a few key words from the verse you chose above, or summarize the verse in your own words. Write it in pretty lettering or sketch something that will help you visualize the meaning of the verse and fix it in your mind. Repeat these words to yourself throughout the week to remind you of the truth contained in the scripture. Here are some options:

Firm + Secure

Anchor (sketch one … buy an anchor charm for your necklace … or get a temporary anchor tattoo!)

HOPE

Feel It:

In this portion of your journal, write out a prayer. The goal is to absorb the meaning of the Bible passage and let it take root in your heart. Ask the Lord to let his word change you by the power of his Spirit. Surrender any areas of your life that you are trying to control.

Dear Lord, I believe that it’s impossible for you to lie, yet you went out of your way to swear an oath to Abraham. There’s something so comforting in knowing that you wanted us to be doubly confident that your words would come to pass. Thank you that my eternity with you is secure. One day, I’ll experience first-hand all of the beauty and perfection that I can only dream about now. Give me strength to endure the pain of this life while I wait for the perfection of heaven. May hope anchor my wavering heart today. Thank you that you are transforming me day-by-day and that my future is secure in you. Amen!