Have you ever felt like quitting, throwing in the towel, and telling yourself, “I can’t do this anymore! It’s just not worth it”? Perhaps you’ve faced times when discouragement seemed overwhelming—whether it was a major conflict in a relationship, opposition to something you deeply believed in, an unexpected crisis, or life-altering news. Maybe it was a drastic change in your job, income, or life direction that left you feeling lost and uncertain.
God will guide and provide for us in the midst of our struggles. It’s not a matter of if but when.
If you’ve been there, you’re not alone. The Letter to the Hebrews was written to people who were struggling and ready to give up. It’s a pastoral letter filled with encouragement meant to lift their heads, boost their spiritual confidence, and help them boldly seek God. One message we can see in the letter is, “Don’t lose hope! Hold on to God!”
We find this pastoral encouragement clearly in the 10th chapter of Hebrews. The letter addresses many issues, but this section is particularly aimed at offering comfort and hope to those enduring hardship. Let’s explore what it has to say about hope.
1. Struggles Are a Part of the Christian Life
The author of Hebrews acknowledges what we all know: life is hard. The author recounts how his audience had “endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction” (Hebrews 10:32-33). That’s a great comfort to us because it means what we face in our own lives is nothing new. We’re not the only ones to face difficulties. And if it is being addressed in the Bible, then the Bible is going to have something to say to us about how to deal with it.
What was happening in the letter’s original context? The recipients were Christians who faced severe persecution for their faith in Jesus. Some were tempted to walk away from their faith and their church; some did. They were marginalized, made fun of, and scorned publicly—today’s equivalent might be being mocked on social media. They were accused of compromising their Jewish heritage, abandoning social norms, and overemphasizing their faith in Jesus. The struggles were not just intellectual or theological; they were personal and painful. Some believers were imprisoned, lost their property, or even faced martyrdom. It was an unsettled, turbulent time, and they likely questioned whether God would guide and provide for them.
Maybe you’re thinking, How does this relate to us? We’re not facing great religious persecution or the kind of public mockery on social media that threatens to undo our whole lives. The specific causes of our struggles may differ from what the letter’s recipients were facing, but the effects are the same: discouragement, frustration, and the temptation to give up. We, too, deal with the same outcome of the struggles and challenges we go through. We have that in common with the audience of the Letter to the Hebrews. This letter is pastoral care for people who are hurting or struggling to endure in their circumstances and so it has something to say to us today just as it did back then.
The key is hope. Hopelessness can lead to harmful and destructive choices, but with hope, we can persevere. “Don’t lose hope! Hold on to God!”
2. Struggles Affect Us Emotionally, Spiritually, and Physically
The language in Hebrews 10:32-36 speaks to the reality of these struggles: enduring hard struggles, being in need of endurance, and being tempted to throw away confidence. These are experiences we can all identify with. We’ve all faced moments of discouragement, frustration, and fatigue—times when we’ve wanted to quit, disengage, or retreat in fear or hurt. I’ve been there, and I’m sure you have too. What do we do in these moments? The key is hope. Hopelessness can lead to harmful and destructive choices, but with hope, we can persevere. “Don’t lose hope! Hold on to God!”
3. Remember That Jesus Is at Work on Our Behalf
In these times of struggle, Hebrews reminds us that we have a helper in Jesus. The text recounts how Jesus has decisively dealt with the root cause of all suffering and struggle—sin. Because of Jesus, we can approach God with confidence: “Since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh…let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:19-22).
Though we still live with the aftermath of sin’s destruction, it is neither permanent nor all-powerful. The struggles we face do not have to define us or dictate our attitudes. Jesus’ work is not only about spiritual salvation; it also speaks to His reign over our circumstances. We have hope and assurance because of who Jesus is and what He has done.
I’ve seen this hope in action. My father faced a terminal cancer diagnosis, yet from the beginning he went through the experience up to end with incredible tranquility, calmness, and a reassurance that all would be well for us. Because he knew the deep hope that only comes in Jesus. After his death, my mother experienced and showed us the same serenity because she, too, knows the Good Shepherd who is the source of lasting hope and care. They did not lose hope. They held on to God.
“We Have This as a Sure and Steadfast Anchor of the Soul” (Hebrews 6:19)
The most powerful image of hopefulness in the letter is found a few chapters earlier: “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul” (Hebrews 6:19). It is speaking of Jesus. The letter explores tremendous theological themes of salvation, forgiveness, atonement, redemption and explains how Jesus is the perfect sacrifice for sin and the perfect High Priest that brings us into God’s presence. But it times of difficulty and anxiety, nothing is quite so powerful as the presence of an anchor that won’t move under pressure.
What does an anchor do? Two pictures come to my mind. One is a boat. On the water, nothing stays still. A boat at rest on the ocean will not long stay in the same place because of winds and current. An anchor keeps a boat from drifting.
A second image is a climber making their way up a vertical rock face. Many climbers use cam anchors that when inserted into a small crack provides an anchor point for attaching their rope. Why do they do this? In case they lose their grip and start to fall.
Anchors keep us from drifting away, from being blown off our course. They keep us safely on the journey and prevent our fall to certain destruction or death. The danger lies when we are not anchored or when the anchor fails. But Jesus is a sure and steadfast anchor—we can absolutely count on Him to save us.
I’ve faced many turbulent and painful moments in my life, but Jesus has always been there, anchoring me securely. He’s kept me from drifting and fall. Time and again, I’ve seen God guide and provide for me. So how do we not lose hope and instead hold onto God?
Face Today’s Challenges with Tomorrow’s Confidence
God will guide and provide for us in the midst of our struggles. It’s not a matter of if but when. We may not know the timing or the details, but we can trust that He is at work, often orchestrating events we don’t yet see. Whatever we face today, we can approach it—and tomorrow—with confidence.
This is the pastoral encouragement to the Hebrews: “Hold fast…without wavering” (Hebrews 10:35). The author challenges believers to live as people filled with the Spirit of God, abiding in Jesus, and holding fast to their faith. So what do we do when we are in the midst of the hard times? Keep on seeking God through prayer and fasting. Keep on worshiping and praising God together with other believers. Keep on loving and serving others. Keep on being obedient to do the best you can with what God has put into your hand at the present moment. Wait on him. Trust in him. Rest in him. You have an anchor.
In difficult times, when we are struggling, discouraged, doubting, or afraid, remember: Jesus is working, and He has already won our victory.
“Don’t lose hope! Hold on to God!” Is your soul anchored in Him today?