And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. ...
...hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul...
Hebrews 6:11-12, 18-19
ESV
(emphasis mine)
...the full assurance of hope... biblical hope... confident expectation... not the hope of our culture... the timid hope... a wish-full hope... The hope of the Bible... the hope promised... is sure... true... one we hold fast to... it is the confident expectation of solid ground... Rock... under our feet...
...hold fast... translated from Greek... meaning... to have power, be powerful.... to be chief, be master of, to rule... to get possession of... seize... to lay hand's on one in order to get him into one's power...
We are called to seize hope... master it... take possession of it... we do not dangle like a dinghy from an anchor in a storm... bouncing on the waves... desperately hoping we will hold out...
We know hope... the confident expectation of the Savior... whose purpose and goodness... is beyond all...
This truth... makes us steadfast in a storm... even a small storm of the soul... a temper-tantrum... brushed off because you have mastered... seized control of... hope...!
No wavering... no doubting... God is good... He loves you... and me... He allows only what is best... He is light... darkness comes only when we turn our backs on Him...
The seizing of hope... blesses the Lord... reveals trust... faith... makes way for patience... kindness... calm... in difficulties... small and great... internal and external...
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