Hope, the Anchor of the Soul

“Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle…

A seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to the light, a bud straining to

Unfurl; and the anticipation nurtures our dream.” (Barbara Winkler)

Like a seed waiting to sprout, we Christians wait for the time of the redemption of our body. As a caterpillar goes through the metamorphosis’ process to become a butterfly, we too are going through the process of sanctification to become like YAHSHUA, at the time when He calls us upwardly. Right now, our soul cries with expectancy, desiring to leave the cocoon (the world) to be with the Lord in our uncorrupted and transformed body. This hope sustains and keeps faith alive within us. Peter calls it the Living hope: Praised be the God and Father of our Lord YAHSHUA Messiah! By His boundless mercy we have been born again to an ever living hope through the resurrection of YAHSHUA Messiah from the dead into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay, unsullied and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, who are being guarded by God’s power through faith [till you fully inherit that final salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time (I Peter 1:3-5). Paul calls it the hope of glory Colossians 1:27: The mystery of which was hidden for ages and generations, but is now revealed to His holy people, to whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ within and among you, the hope of glory (Col. 1:26-27). And again, Paul calls it the blessed hope when writing to Titus: Awaiting and looking for the blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ YAHSHUA (Titus 2:13).

 Webster’s dictionary describes hope in a living and active way that it brings out the emotion of our feeling, when we read it: “A feeling that what is wanted will happen; desire accompanied by anticipation, or expectation.” We all live hoping for one thing or another. Although, it does not always happen the way we wanted and sometimes, we get frustrated and disappointed. However, hope does not die easily. We cannot live with the feeling of hopelessness, without feeling mentally sick with depression, since hope is the anchor of the soul. This means, hope brings joy, peace and health to our inner being of a better day and circumstances in the physical world. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Prov.13:12). But hope that becomes reality brightens and encourages lives in this world of uncertainties, where one cannot know the ifs of circumstances. It is hope that emanates from faith that sustains and keeps us focused on our Savior and Lord, YAHSHUA. The hope in the promise of a beautiful future with Him. Many obstacles we must overcome as we walk through the valleys and deserts of life, remembering that although they are part of our journey, we are not to stay stuck there, but to continue pressing on, for victory is for those who will overcome them, sustained by hope in the promise of deliverance from all our troubles. Paul said, If we who are in Christ have hope only in this life and that is all, then we are of all people most miserable and to be pitied (I Cor. 15:19). Yes, without a doubt, this kind of hope is easily evaporated with troubles that come to test us. It is hope that depends only on the tangible, without faith to endure the test of time. While in our pilgrimage on this earth, the hope we embrace is firm as a rock, standing secured, immovable against the rage of the storms. We must find the hiding place it offers, in order to be saved from fear, doubt, from anxieties and worriers, the destroyers of hope. It is in hope sustained by faith that we have peace; a good place to be. YAHSHUA said, In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33).