Marissa Henley

Encouraging weary women to hope in Christ alone

The Steadfast Anchor for our Soul {No Matter What Monday}

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heb 6.19

What is your anchor? When the storms come and the wind throws your small boat up into the air, what keeps it from being tossed so far that it’s destroyed by the waves?

 

When the waves threaten, we need an anchor. Anchors are strong. Anchors are immovable. Anchors provide stability when life around us is turbulent.

 

In Hebrews 6:19, we are given a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul: “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor . . . ”

 

What is this anchor? If we at the context of the chapter, we see this anchor is the unchanging character of God’s promises. Theses promises are sure and steadfast because of the character of the One who makes them: His unwavering faithfulness.

 

What else in your life is unchanging? What else can you cling to that will never fail or waver? I haven’t found anything in my life that is more steadfast than the promises of my Heavenly Father.

 

Our Creator, Redeemer and Lord beckons us to find refuge in Him. He makes these promises and guarantees them with an oath to show us the “unchangeable character of his purpose,” so that “we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us” (verses 17-18).

 

Are your circumstances tossing you haphazardly? Does life feel chaotic or out of control? Find refuge in the Lord. Let his arms wrap around your rocking boat as he lowers the anchor of his steadfast promises.

 

Because the Lord is holding fast to you, you can hold fast to the hope set before you and face the storm ahead.

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God Supplies the Hope We Crave {No Matter What Monday}

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rom 15.13

Last week’s verse reminded us that our Heavenly Father is the only source of unshakeable hope (Psalm 62:5).

 

But as I’ve already confessed, I struggle to place my hope solely in the Lord. I am constantly tempted to place my hope in something more tangible: my abilities, my wisdom, my people, my possessions.

 

No matter how hard I try, I can’t muster up a hope that is firmly in Christ alone. I know He is the only source of true, unfailing hope. But my heart is so fickle! I forget so easily. Like a clueless sheep, I become distracted and wander off in another direction. I need the Shepherd to gently reach out and bring me back to safety. I crave a hope that endures.

 

So I find comfort in Romans 15:13:

 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 

 

God Himself is the answer to our struggle with finding our hope in Him. He is the God of hope. Through the Holy Spirit, He fills us with joy and peace so we can enjoy bountiful hope. The hope He gives will never run out and will never fail. The hope He gives endures forever, through all circumstances.

 

No matter what you face this week, God supplies the hope you need to have lasting joy and peace.

 

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Sharing God’s Story ~ Guest post at Over A Cup

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Henley family 2011“I’ll be a little disappointed if this lump isn’t cancer,” I told my husband after returning home from Bible study in October 2010. In that evening’s lesson on Isaiah 12, our teacher exhorted us to glorify God in front of a watching world by trusting him in the midst of suffering. As I scribbled notes furiously, I couldn’t help thinking of the biopsy I had scheduled for later in the week. My faithful Father was preparing me for the outcome by showing me His purpose in suffering: That His name would be glorified by my dependence on Him and continued praise of His character.

Less than a week later, I received a diagnosis of angiosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer with a five-year survival rate of 30%. I was a busy mom of three young kids—my boys were 6 and 4, and my baby girl was 18 months old. I had expected to grow old with my husband and see my kids grow into adulthood. And suddenly, I was fighting to see my 35th birthday.

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I’m grateful for the opportunity to share the story of God’s faithfulness in my life at Over A Cup today. Click over there to finish reading!

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Only God Gives Unshakeable Hope {No Matter What Monday}

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PS 62.5Where does your hope come from?

I know the Sunday school answer to this question is “Jesus.” But I also know my own heart and my tendency to want something more tangible in which to place my hope.

If our marriage is failing, we might place our hope in couples counseling or a strategy for changing our spouse. If we are struggling financially, we might place our hope in working overtime toward a promotion at work. If we are battling health issues, we might place our hope in a knowledgeable doctor or the statistical outcome of a specific treatment. If we are stressed about the political climate and the direction of our country, we may place our hope in getting our candidate into office.

Godly counsel, diligence, knowledgeable doctors, sound leadership . . . none of these things are bad. There’s nothing wrong with pursuing these things. But they shouldn’t be our source of abiding hope, because the hope they give will be short-lived. They won’t satisfy our deepest fears and doubts regarding our struggles.

The only hope that will truly satisfy is our hope in the Lord.

Psalm 62:5 says: “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.” 

No matter what we face this week, our Heavenly Father is the only source of rock-solid hope and unshakeable salvation.

 

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