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Worldliness and Anchor of Hope
Teaching of Virtue
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Worldliness & Anchor of Hope
It is the anchor of hope that keeps one from drifting into the darkness of despair—where they do not trust God—or the disillusionment of presumption, where they do not need Him. It is worldliness that leads to both.
Worldly hope, which is natural hope, is an essential part of life. The hurt hope for healing, the persecuted long for peace, the daring dream of success. Without hope, life loses its direction; one cannot persevere without the prospect of a brighter future. Yet these hopes, while good, must never supersede one’s hope in Christ, lest the ills of despair or presumption soon follow.
Divine hope, which is supernatural hope, is the believer’s assurance of a brighter future—the crown gift of grace through faith. Scripture declares, "This [hope] we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, which reaches into [Heaven] where Jesus has entered on our behalf." (Hebrews 6:18-20 NABRE). Unlike the anchor of a ship in the sea—
The anchor of hope in Heaven does not merely prevent the faithful from drifting but actively pulls them forward, keeping them grounded in Christ’s truth while encouraging them to rely on the winds of grace to guide them in their unique spiritual journey across the ocean of life.
Henceforth, resist the currents of the times; untethered souls wander far from God. It takes an elevated mind, humble heart, and connected soul—anchored to the Rock of Christ—to remain not just unmoved amid the waves of the world, but a herald of hope.
Scroll down for the related scriptures, quotes, and lesson plan associated with this teaching.
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Related Scripture
“This [hope] we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, which reaches into [Heaven] where Jesus has entered on our behalf." — Hebrews 6:18-20 (abbreviated NABRE)
“...be strongly encouraged to hold fast to the hope that lies before us. This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, which reaches into the interior behind the veil, where Jesus has entered on our behalf as forerunner..." — Hebrews 6:18-20 (NABRE)
“We put our hope in the LORD; he is our protector and our help. We are glad because of him; we trust in his holy name. May your constant love be with us, LORD, as we put our hope in you.” — Psalm 33:20-22 (GNT)
“‘I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” — John 14:25-27 (NRSVCE)
“For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock. Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.” — Psalms 27:5-6 (NRSVCE)
“My soul longs for your salvation; I put my hope in your word.” — Psalms 119:81 (NABRE)
“Remember your promise to me, your servant; it has given me hope. Even in my suffering I was comforted because your promise gave me life.” — Psalms 119:49-50 (GNT)
“Even though the fig trees have no fruit and no grapes grow on the vines, even though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no grain, even though the sheep all die and the cattle stalls are empty, I will still be joyful and glad, because the Lord God is my savior.” — Habakkuk 3:17-18 (GNT)
“Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses. He sets the time for birth and the time for death, the time for planting and the time for pulling up, the time for killing and the time for healing, the time for tearing down and the time for building. He sets the time for sorrow and the time for joy, the time for mourning and the time for dancing, the time for making love and the time for not making love, the time for kissing and the time for not kissing. He sets the time for finding and the time for losing, the time for saving and the time for throwing away, the time for tearing and the time for mending, the time for silence and the time for talk. He sets the time for love and the time for hate, the time for war and the time for peace.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (GNT)
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 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.” — Romans 8:37-39 (NRSVCE)
“Do not, therefore, abandon that boldness of yours; it brings a great reward. For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what was promised.” — Hebrews 10:26-39 (NRSVCE)
Related Quotes
“Hope is like an anchor. Our hope in Christ stabilizes us in the storms of life, but unlike an anchor, it does not hold us back.” — Charles R. Swindoll
“You have a God who hears you, the power of love behind you, the Holy Spirit within you, and all of heaven ahead of you. If you have the Shepherd, you have grace for every sin, direction for every turn, a candle for every corner and an anchor for every storm. You have everything you need.” — Max Lucado
“The pursuit of holiness must be anchored in the grace of God; otherwise it is doomed to failure.” — Jerry Bridges
“When comfort is withdrawn, do not be cast down, but humbly and patiently await the visitation of God. He is able and powerful to give you more grace and more spiritual comfort than you first had.” — Thomas à Kempis
“The average person in the world today, without faith and without God and without hope, is engaged in a desperate personal search throughout his lifetime. He does not really know where he has been. He does not really know what he is doing here and now. He does not know where he is going. The sad commentary is that he is doing it all on borrowed time and borrowed money and borrowed strength; and he already knows that in the end he will surely die! Man, made more like God than any other creature, has become less like God than any other creature. Created to reflect the glory of God, he has retreated sullenly into his cave; reflecting only his own sinfulness. Certainly it is a tragedy above all tragedies in this world that man, made with a soul to worship and praise and sing to God’s glory, now sulks silently in his cave.” — A.W. Tozer
“A gracious soul may look through the darkest cloud and see God smiling on him.” — Thomas Brooks
“The ship of my life may or may not be sailing on calm and amiable seas. The challenging days of my existence may or may not be bright and promising. Stormy or sunny days, glorious or lonely nights, I maintain an attitude of gratitude. If I insist on being pessimistic, there is always tomorrow. Today I am blessed.” — Maya Angelou
Lesson Plan
For your family, small group, or personal reflection.
STEP 1: Introduction
Example: "I'm going to play a short video on the topic of worldliness and the anchor of hope. After the video, I have some questions to gather your thoughts and get the discussion started. We’ll then wrap up with a closing prayer."
STEP 2: Watch Video (or listen)
Watch (or listen to) the video of the teaching (cast to your TV via YouTube). If time allows, also read the teaching, related Scriptures, and related quotes.
STEP 3: Discussion / Reflection
- How do you see the anchor of divine hope working in your life?
- What are some “currents of the times” that have challenged your faith or pulled you away from trusting in God?
- Have you experienced moments of despair or presumption? How did they affect your relationship with God?
- The teaching emphasizes hope not only as a stabilizer but as something that pulls us forward. How can you actively let divine hope guide your decisions and purpose?
- How can your life serve as a source of hope for others?
- Did any of the related Scriptures or quotes stand out to you (please elaborate)?
- Any other thoughts you’d like to share?
STEP 4: Wrap Up & Closing Prayer
Summarize and wrap up the discussion. Then, conclude with a sincere and humble prayer from the heart.
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