Anchored in Hope
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful."
—Hebrews 10:23 (ESV)
Advent is a season of waiting, and waiting is challenging. As we wait, however, Hebrews 10:23 reminds us that our anticipation is sustained by our hope. Not a groundless, unsteady hope, but one that is grounded in God’s deep and complete faithfulness. Hope is our anchor, and, like a literal anchor, it blesses us with a host of attributes. For a boat, the anchor keeps the vessel’s bow true, leading into the strongest part of the storm so that the boat will not be overturned. The anchor is the safety, keeping the boat from being cast on the rocks or losing structural integrity. Finally, the anchor, and our hope in God, is the lifeline, our hope and our rescue when everything else fails us. Life is full of storms. Indeed, you are either in one now, or there is one just up ahead. There will be moments in our lives—perhaps even this semester or during this Advent—when we feel the tug of discouragement, fear, or fatigue. We “hold fast” to our hope with confidence and encourage each other to do so, for it is the preservation of our souls. We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith.
Guided Reflection:
Take a moment today to reflect on a promise of God that has proven true in your life in the past. Write this down and spend time giving thanks.
From this, and looking forward, speak a word of hope today to someone who may need to hear it.
About the Author
Stephen Sloan, Ph.D.
Professor of History, Director of the Institute for Oral History & Executive Director of the Oral History Association
Stephen Sloan leads the Institute for Oral History within Baylor Libraries, and he is also a professor in Baylor’s Department of History, specializing in U.S. history post 1941, environmental history, public history, and the American West. He holds a doctorate in public history and U.S. history from Arizona State University. Sloan organizes research projects, leads community oral history workshops, directs grants and contracts, and conducts field interviews. He has won several awards for his publications and projects, including the Elizabeth B. Mason Oral History Project Award for the “Survivors of Genocide Oral History Project” and the Oral History Association Book Award for the co-edited Listening on the Edge: Oral History in the Aftermath of Crisis.
Dr. Sloan’s academic journey began at Baylor, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees before leaving Waco to begin his career in higher education. He returned in 2007 as a professor, and he has been recognized for his teaching by colleagues and students alike. In 2024, he was recognized as the Cornelia Marschall Smith Professor of the Year by Baylor University and was named a Big XII Faculty of the Year.