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We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,
Hebrews 6:19
We live in uncertain times. News changes rapidly, plans are disrupted without warning, and the stability we long for seems always just out of reach. In the midst of such instability, God’s Word offers a truth that rises above the chaos: our hope in Christ is a firm and secure anchor for the soul.
Hebrews 6:19 presents us with a powerful image: an anchor. The anchor symbolises stability, steadfastness amidst the storm. In the context of this passage, the author of Hebrews is encouraging believers who are facing persecution and discouragement. He reminds them that God does not lie, that his promises are secure, and that in Christ we have access to a hope that does not disappoint. Christian hope is not a vague desire or naïve optimism; it is a firm certainty, rooted in the faithfulness of God.
1. The Nature of Christian Hope
We often confuse hope with a positive attitude or vague expectations about the future. But biblical hope is far deeper: it is the confident assurance in what God has promised, based on what He has already done.
In Hebrews 6, the author recalls the promise made to Abraham: “Surely I will bless you and multiply you” (v.14). Despite the years of waiting, Abraham persevered because he trusted in the Lord’s word. Today, we not only look back to the promises God made in the past but also to their ultimate fulfilment in Jesus Christ. He is our living hope (1 Peter 1:3), who has entered “behind the curtain”, that is, he has opened the way to the Father through His sacrifice. Our hope, therefore, is not in our circumstances, but in the One who has overcome the world.
2. Hope Strengthens Perseverance
The Christian life is not easy. There are trials, discouragements, and moments when everything seems to lose meaning. But it is precisely in these moments that hope acts as an anchor: it does not remove us from the storm, but keeps us firm as it passes.
Hebrews urges its readers not to become sluggish but to imitate “those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Hebrews 6:12). Faith and patience: this is perseverance. And such perseverance does not come from our own strength but from the Spirit, who reminds us of God’s promises.
In Romans 5:3–5, Paul writes: “Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame.” This is not an illusory hope, but one forged in the fire of struggle. When we suffer, we learn to depend on God. And when we depend on Him, we discover that His faithfulness holds even when everything else falls apart.
3. Hope Looks to the Future, but is Nourished by the Past
Our Christian hope has a future dimension: we await the final redemption, the return of Christ, the restoration of all things. But it also has deep roots in the past. It is because Christ rose from the dead that we can hope for our own resurrection. It is because he was faithful unto death that we can trust in his faithfulness today.
When the author of Hebrews speaks of the anchor that “enters behind the curtain”, he is referring to the Most Holy Place, where Christ has entered on our behalf (v.20). He has opened the way for us and now continually intercedes for us. So every time we are tempted to give up, we can look back to the cross—and forward to the throne of glory—and remember that our hope is secure.
4. Practical Application: Living with Persevering Hope
What does this look like in daily life? It means:
• Praying even when it seems pointless, knowing that God hears.
• Continuing to obey, even when we see no immediate results, because we trust in God’s timing.
• Encouraging others with God’s promises, being channels of hope to those who suffer.
• Remembering that our story does not end in today’s struggle, but in Christ’s final victory.
To live with hope does not mean denying pain, but facing it with eyes fixed on God. To persevere is not merely to endure, but to move forward in trust that He who began the good work will bring it to completion.
Conclusion
Christian hope is not an illusion. It is a person: Jesus Christ. He is the firm anchor that keeps our soul at peace when everything around us seems to sink. He is the fulfilled promise and the guarantee of what is to come. May you cling to that hope amid your struggles. May you persevere, not by your own strength, but by His grace. And may you one day say with certainty: “My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning” (Psalm 130:6).
Closing Prayer
Almighty God,
in you we find the hope that does not disappoint and the strength to persevere.
Thank you that in our doubts, weariness and struggles,
you are the firm anchor that holds our soul.
Help us to fix our eyes on Jesus, our forerunner,
who opened the way to your presence and triumphed for us.
Teach us to live each day focused on your promises,
to trust your faithfulness even when we do not understand the path,
and to be instruments of hope for others.
May your Spirit strengthen us to persevere with joy,
as we patiently await the glorious fulfilment of your work in us.
In the name of Christ Jesus, our living hope,
Amen.
The Most Rev Enrique Lago
Primate of the Anglican Church of Chile
