We have this hope as an anchor for the soul

I am not much fun to live with for various reasons but one of them is that I don’t really observe most of the family anniversaries or commercialised celebrations apart from birthdays and Christmas. I might try to call it living a simpler lifestyle, but others instead call it being mean or lazy. My hypocrisy is laid bare when you realise that I am not averse to receiving gifts on such days. One such made-up celebration is Father’s Day, which I was never really into, but for the last few years when my daughter has given me a gift of a simple A4 notebook with an artistic design on the front based on a bible text.

This year she presented me with it on the day I needed to write this post. It had already been a very challenging day, pastorally, personally and practically. It was a day where it was easy to become spiritually rather numb and less prayerful when, if anything, more prayer was needed!

The text on the front of the notepad reads: ‘we have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain’. (Hebrews 6:19)

By the faithful promise, and the unchangeable character of God, we have access into the presence of the king. Whatever else happens no one can take that away from us and nothing drag us away from him.

But on those difficult days, we tend towards two extremes. We might try and ignore the storm, to get on with life as though we are strong enough on our own, and keep sailing on. Or we get so overwhelmed by the storm we give up. But we need to avoid both denial and despair.

Instead we need to cry out in the storm. We remind ourselves that we have access into the presence of God and that he hears us so we keep going, that is the secure anchor we hold on to. Not through grit and determination but by the firm belief that we are spiritually in his presence right now. And we know with absolute certainty that God will keep us and he will bring us home.

This reflection was written for the July monthly email newsletter. Subscribe now to get regular news and updates from Affinity.