What Are You Holding On To?
Hope.
It’s a word we use all the time.
“I hope tomorrow is better.”
“I hope this pain goes away.”
“I hope I change.”
Hope carries our longings, our dreams, and sometimes, our desperation.
Imagine you’re drowning—exhausted, struggling to keep your head above water. Then, just within reach, you see a rope. Relief floods you as you grab hold, clinging to it with everything you have. But what if the rope isn’t anchored to anything? What if, instead of pulling you to safety, it simply floats beside you, lost in the same deep water, offering nothing but the illusion of rescue?
Hope is a lot like that rope. When it is anchored to something solid, it becomes our means of salvation. But when it’s not, it leaves us grasping at nothing.
Scripture speaks of hope in different ways:
- False hope that leads to destruction.
- The hope within us that sustains.
- The hope rooted in God’s promises of what is to come.
So, the question is: Are you holding onto something that can save you, or just an illusion?
When We Cling to What Cannot Save
Some call the lottery a "tax on people who are bad at math"—and honestly, they’re not wrong. People know the odds. They know their chances of winning are microscopic. And yet, for two dollars, they buy the dream—the possibility, however unlikely, of a better life.
Why?
Because even the tiniest sliver of hope feels better than no hope at all.
We do the same thing in life. We cling to relationships, situations, and choices that have proven time and again to drag us down. We place our hope in success, thinking that if we can just achieve enough, we’ll finally feel whole. We convince ourselves that if we try harder, pray harder, love more, or push through, things will turn out the way we need them to.
But this false “lottery ticket” hope is deadly because it encourages us keep holding on to what we should let go of.
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” — Psalm 20:7
Mending the Soul reminds us that healing doesn’t come from grasping at illusions. It comes from surrender—trusting that God has something better, even when we can’t see it yet.
What are you clinging to that cannot save?
The Hope That Is Christ in Us
True hope isn’t found in circumstances. It’s found in a Person—Jesus Christ. He is our living hope (1 Peter 1:3), dwelling within us, transforming us from the inside out. When everything else is shaken, He remains.
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” — 1 Peter 3:15
This hope doesn’t ignore pain or pretend things are okay when they aren’t. It sits with the brokenhearted. It acknowledges suffering while still knowing that God is at work. It is the hope that fuels every Mending the Soul group—the belief that no one’s story is too far gone for redemption.
Unlike false hope, which deceives, Christ within us emboldens, guides, and strengthens. This isn’t about long odds or wishful thinking—it is rooted in the certainty of God’s love and faithfulness.
Where is your hope anchored?
The Hope That Is to Come
Even when we follow Jesus, life can feel overwhelming. Wounds remain. Losses can’t be undone. We look around and see brokenness—in our hearts, in our families, in the world.
But our hope is not just for today. It is for what He has promised.
Paul reminds us in Romans 8:18:
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
This is the promise that keeps us going. The pain we experience now is real, but it is not permanent. God is in the process of restoring all things—mending what has been shattered, healing wounds we thought would never close.
One day, the scars of abuse, betrayal, and heartbreak will no longer define us. The deep grief we carry will not be the final chapter of our story. God is working, even now, to redeem what has been lost, and He will complete that work in His perfect time.
Mending the Soul has always been about healing—helping survivors walk the path of restoration. But the healing we experience here, as powerful as it is, is just a glimpse of what is to come.
When God restores, He doesn’t just make things “a little better.” He makes them new.
Holding Onto True Hope
False hope will fail us. But the hope within us sustains us. And the hope for what is to come gives us the strength and purpose to endure.
So, what kind of hope are you holding onto? Is it rooted in what is unshakable, or is it slipping through your fingers?
May we be the kind of people who cling to the Living Hope, even in the waiting. Because in Him, our hope is never in vain.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” — Romans 15:13
