Rest in Hope - the Anchor of the Soul!  

Been a bit busy? Need rest? Well, the best rest begins with hope.

Think of the last time you used the word hope; what did you really mean? I began to think about the concept of hope and the common understanding today. I discovered many people used the word hope when they really mean wish. Not good!

Of course, everyone needs encouragement at times, like when you just want to quit - or when your husband is discouraged. Sometimes we feel desperate for hope, and wonder where to find it. I suppose this desire is as old as Job, [Job 17:15] when he questioned, where then is my hope?

Webster's dictionary defines hope as:  [1913 Webster]

(1)    A desire -- combined with expectation; a thing desired; to desire with belief in possibility of obtaining

(2)    One who, or that which, gives hope, furnishes ground of expectation, or promises desired good.

(3)    That which is hoped for; an object of hope.

Take time to read the scriptures below, and put the above definitions in place of the word "hope". You will find great encouragement for your soul! You will find hope for today!

• Christ is the actual object of the believer's hope, because it is in His second coming that the hope of glory will be fulfilled (1 Tim. 1:1; Col. 1:27; Titus 2:13).
• It is a living hope, a hope not frail and perishable, but having a perennial life (1 Pet. 1:3).
• Our hope is based on God (I John 3:3).

Hebrews 6 speaks of having strong encouragement because we ran for refuge, grasping the hope set before us. Hope in verse 18 is confidence in eternal salvation, and The One who secures that salvation-Jesus. Verse 19 says, "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast, and one which enters within the veil". This verse pictures a small inlet connected with an open body of water. The inlet is quiet, not directly exposed to the upheavals or dangers of open waters.

Hope functions as the anchor, a safeguard. It is firm, certain, and trust-worthy. This anchor of hope, Jesus, holds us IN that safe quiet calm place, securely connected, regardless of storms we encounter out in the open sea. We aren't adrift in treacherous waters; we are secured by hope to the quiet safe place.

I need a quiet safe place, don't you? Jesus tore down that

Anita Wood

separating veil; He reigns, providing ongoing and direct access to our Heavenly Father. He is our lifeline, our anchor-connector called hope because He is the basis of our expectation.

Now, a personal question: what is the object of YOUR hope? Sometimes our most private self trusts our husband, or powerful friends, or even retirement accounts! That is really the basis of our hope, not Jesus. Dare to be honest about where you place confident expectations-hope.  

In Psalm 39:4-5, David says life is a vapor, and pointless with no meaning or sense of hope. He answers his questions with verse 7 "...now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You!"

Can you define your hope? Ps 71:5 - 7, "You ARE my hope O Lord God; You are my trust from my youth. By You I have been upheld from birth - - - you are my strong refuge."

We can rest in hope. Ps 16:9 "Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope." I need this today.

May you also find rest, and encouragement, yes-hope for today.

He is our only HOPE.  See you in the devotionals and in the  forums!