If Hope is the Anchor, then Faith is the Action

I want to talk today about trust and hope.

Have you ever really trusted someone? Have you ever known that he or she would never let you down, no matter what and that person was always there?

Typically, in this world, that follows with disappointment and regret.

Today, we talked about awakening to regret. We are in a 5 week series about Finding Your Way Back to God.

First, there is an awakening to longing, a longing that nothing in this world can satisfy and was designed to lead us to God.

This past week, that longing has overwhelmed me.

I sat and listened to Heaven Song by Phil Wickham daily, realizing the awakening of longing in my heart.

"I want to run on greener pastures, I want to dance on higher hills
I want to drink from sweeter waters, in the misty morning chill
And my soul is getting restless, for the place where I belong
I can't wait to join the angels
And sing my heaven song."

This desire is striking.

I'm longing for something I've never had. I want for a place I've never seen, and a God I've only heard and felt.

Think for a second how much trust that takes.

We trust that there is a God, who loves us so much He has prepared a place for us. We trust that believing in Him is all it takes to get there, and we trust that we are placed on this earth with a purpose and a plan.

Now, reread those last 2 sentences and replace the word trust with hope.

We hope that there is a God, who loves us so much He has prepared a place for us. We hope that believing in Him is all it takes to get there, and we hope that we are placed on this earth with a purpose and plan.

How has that sentence changed for you?

Trust leads to hope. Trust is the foundation of hope.

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure..." (Hebrews 6:19).

If hope is the anchor, then trust is the action of throwing that hope overboard.

Something that I have discovered is that this anchor can sink in to a multitude of things.

I honestly have thrown my hope at so many people, places, and things. Every time, they didn't hold and I drifted.

But here's the difference: I pulled that anchor right back in and hurled it at God.

With Christ as my salvation, I'm not lost at sea. I know exactly where to throw it, I just choose not to sometimes.

What God has shown me these past few months is that he is not mad I threw it at other things. All I felt was love when I realized my mistakes, adjusted my thinking, and cast it all on Him.

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).

At True Hope, my church, our pastor challenged us to make a bet on God.

"God, if you are real, make yourself real to me."

I have believed in God my entire life, but I still took that bet. He challenged us to pursue God wholeheartedly, whether you believe in Him or not, and bet that it would be impossible for our lives not to change.

This week, a new aspect was added:

"God, if you are real, make yourself real to me. Awaken in me the possibility that with you I could start over again."

He won't reveal Himself to us, then do nothing. If we are willing, He'll reveal Himself and then rock our world.

I challenge you to take that bet, and see if He changes your life. I know He will.

He has with me, and is every second.

Keep throwing that anchor at him, and hold fast to Him as the waves pass by.

"Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).

DTI