Anchored in God's unchanging promise

The image of the anchor is one of Scripture’s most powerful metaphors, and it reminds us that faith is not a flimsy feeling but a steadfast grip on something that cannot move. In Hebrews 6:17–19, we read that God, wanting to show the heirs of the promise the unchangeable nature of His purpose, confirmed it with an oath—so that by two immutable things, His promise and His oath, we who have fled to Him for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold tightly to the hope set before us. This hope, we are told, is an anchor for the soul—firm and secure, holding us fast in the presence of God Himself.

That is the foundation of Christian hope: not a wishful optimism or a naïve denial of difficulty, but a confident assurance grounded in the unchanging character of God. He cannot lie, He cannot fail, and His purpose is not swayed by circumstance. The storms may rage, the waves may rise, and yet the anchor holds, not because of our strength, but because of His faithfulness. In a world that feels increasingly uncertain—socially, politically, economically—this truth could not be more vital. We are living in days when many are adrift, tossed by the currents of culture or overwhelmed by the pressures of daily life. Yet those who have taken refuge in God have something unshakeable holding them firm beneath the surface.
An anchor is unseen when it is doing its work. It disappears beneath the waves, but it holds the vessel steady. In the same way, our faith is often unseen by the world around us, but it is that hidden confidence in God that steadies our hearts when everything else trembles. The writer to the Hebrews tells us that this anchor “enters within the veil,” into the very presence of God. That veil symbolised the barrier between humanity and the divine—a separation torn apart when Christ died on the cross. Our hope, then, is not just fixed on a distant idea but on a living Person. Jesus, our forerunner, has gone ahead into the very presence of God and has secured that place for us. When life feels chaotic, when grief strikes, when we lose our bearings, we can remind ourselves: my anchor holds in Him.

But being anchored is not about standing still. It is about being secure enough to move forward. Ships use anchors not only to keep from drifting but also to position themselves safely in changing conditions. So it is with faith. When we are anchored in God’s promise, we are free to navigate the challenges of life without fear of losing our footing. The storms of disappointment, the winds of temptation, and the waves of doubt cannot dislodge us from His love. We may feel the strain, but we do not drift away. Hope is not the absence of hardship; it is the assurance of stability in the midst of it.

For many, the temptation is to anchor in the wrong things—success, relationships, possessions, even religious activity. But these anchors fail. They rust. They cannot withstand the depths. Only God’s Word and His promise, confirmed by His unchanging character, can bear the full weight of our souls. When we rest in that truth, we discover a peace that defies explanation. It is not built on what is seen, but on what is eternal. The more we trust in Him, the deeper that anchor digs into the bedrock of His faithfulness.
In our own journeys, it is worth asking: where have we placed our anchors? Are they tied to shifting sands or to the solid rock of Christ? The church, too, must be anchored—not to trends, not to personalities, but to the living hope that has been revealed in Jesus. As individuals and as a community, we are called to display the strength that comes from a steadfast faith. It is that inner confidence, quiet but unyielding, that allows us to stand firm and offer hope to a drifting world.

At Runnymede Christian Fellowship, this message speaks deeply into who we are called to be—a people anchored in God’s unchanging promise. We are heirs of that promise, bound by His oath, invited to live out a faith that holds steady through every season. Whatever may come—uncertainty, change, or even suffering—our souls can rest secure. For our hope does not depend on circumstances; it is rooted in the eternal purpose of God. The anchor holds, because He holds us.

That is the invitation of the gospel: to trust the One who never changes, to take refuge in His word, and to live with a confidence that does not falter. Hope that endures, faith that stands, and love that overcomes—these are not poetic ideals, but living realities for those anchored in Him.