All of us have experienced trouble in our lives, and most of us have helped or tried to help others who were going through difficulties. When trouble comes—and it surely will—believers in Christ are to trust the perfect and completely sufficient Word of God and remember the never-failing promises of God that provide hope in any challenge of life.
Romans 15:4, For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
2 Timothy 3:16-17, All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
2 Peter 1:3-4, His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
God’s Word assures us that He uses trials to accomplish many purposes in a believer’s life.
See Trials…God’s Pathway for Growth and Grace
The anchors of hope in this study provide encouragement that can help believers in Christ trust in God’s good work
even in the midst of life’s most difficult challenges.
FIRST ANCHOR OF HOPE
God promises that every trial (test/temptation) is common to mankind and that no trial is greater than you can bear, He will provide a way of escape in every trial so you can endure it without sinning.
1 Corinthians 10:12-13, Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation [test] has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted [tested] beyond your ability, but with the temptation [test] he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. [Inserts added]
See God is Faithful
SECOND ANCHOR OF HOPE
The Lord will never leave you, and His mercies are unending.
Hebrews 13:5b, . . . for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Lamentations 3:21-23, But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 22The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end; 23they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
THIRD ANCHOR OF HOPE
The Lord will lift you up if you falter.
Psalm 37:23-24, The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.
Psalm 145:14, The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down
FOURTH ANCHOR OF HOPE
You display God’s power when your personal abilities and strength prove to be insufficient.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10, But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
FIFTH ANCHOR OF HOPE
The Holy Spirit intercedes for you when you don’t know what to pray about.
Romans 8:26-27, Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
SIXTH ANCHOR OF HOPE
God works out every situation in a believer’s life toward the goal of becoming more like Christ.
Romans 8:28-30, And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
SEVENTH ANCHOR OF HOPE
You can be an overwhelming conqueror in any trial, since nothing can separate you from the love of God.
Romans 8:31-39, What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
EIGHTH ANCHOR OF HOPE
Trials and tests are integral to authentic faith and on-going growth in Christ.
Acts 14:22b, … through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
Romans 5:1-5, Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
2 Timothy 3:12, Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
James 1:2-4, Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
SUMMARY: LET’S HOLD FAST OUR ANCHORS
Many believers initially see no benefits in trials. God, in His sovereign wisdom, has designed life otherwise. From a natural perspective, we humans typically view trials with ourselves in mind. God calls us to view trials with Christ in mind. When we, as believers, accept God’s truth in this matter, we will trust Him, obey His Word, and rely on His power to make the Christ-like changes He desires in our lives. May we, by God’s grace, learn to welcome life’s challenges as opportunities to display His character and presence in each circumstance as we grow into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior and soon coming King.
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Anchors of Hope for Any Trial © 2011 WordTruth, Inc—http://www.wordtruth.net
Verses from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version © 2001Version by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers