Our “topsy-turvy” world

There are times when a change of circumstances is either unpleasant or unwelcome to accept. Such circumstances are commonly referred to as trials or storms of life. And they make us feel discouraged, defeated, or even angry at times. 

Perhaps some of the questions that coms to mind are, “why is this happening to me?” Or, “I don’t deserve this!.” Or, “what can I do?” Or, “is there any hope for me?”

These may be legitimate questions people facing unusual circumstances may ask. However, as Christians, one should never doubt God or abandon faith in the Almighty. The believer in Jesus Christ has the full assurance of eternal life in Him, which in itself gives hope. And hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to take place. 

Hope is the key to having faith in God, even although there may be a lack of confidence about the future, or the successful outcome of the present circumstance. The Bible says: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:7). 

Note carefully what the Scripture says. First, we must trust in the Lord. This requires firm belief in the absolute confidence in the Lord who “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). This is because of the reality that our hope is actually the Lord Himself.  

Prior to coming to know Jesus as Lord and Savior, a person lived without God and without hope in this Christ-rejecting world. The Bible says: “Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, . . . having no hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12). 

To live without God and without hope means that the situation you find yourself in is not going to change for the better in or by itself. Godly intervention is required to make the necessary change.

Prayerfully commit the entire situation to Almighty God who alone is able to effectively calm your fears and make you ultimately victorious. God has absolute power to calm any tempest that may develop in your life. And He will never disappoint.

Christians have the assurance in God’s Word, which states: “Have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf” (Hebrews 6:18-20).

William MacDonald makes a noteworthy commentary on this quoted biblical text. He writes: “The believer has two unchangeable things on which to rely — His word and His oath. It is impossible to imagine anything more secure or certain. In the storms and trials of life this hope serves as a anchor of the soul. The knowledge that our glorification is as certain as if it had already happened keeps us from drifting on the wild waves of doubt and despair.

The anchor is not into the shifting sands of this world but takes hold in the heavenly sanctuary. Since our hope is the anchor, the meaning is that our hope is secured in God’s very Presence behind the veil. Just as sure as the anchor is there, we shall be there also.

“Jesus has gone into the inner shrine also as our forerunner. His presence there insures the ultimate entrance of all who belong to Him” (Believer’s Bible Commentary, pgs. 2176, 2177 Thomas Nelson Publishers).

Unlike mortal man, what God has promised, He is able to perform. As a Christian, you can experience wonderful God-given peace of mind in the midst of life’s mighty storms and heaviest trials because your anchor is sure and endures forever. It is attached behind the veil in God’s heaven. 

This beautiful old (but always relevant) congregational hymn, has been a source of comfort, inspiration, and strength for many people over many years: