Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.
—Hebrews 6:18
God cannot lie. We can trust every Word God has ever said. Hebrews 1:3 says all things are held together by the power of God’s Words. If God were to break His Word, creation would collapse. Since creation is still intact, we can be assured every promise of God has been kept absolutely perfectly.
The very fact that God cannot lie should have been enough to prove Himself to us. But because of His incredible love and mercy, He also gave us something more: His oath that His Word is true. The fact that God cannot lie and His oath that His Word is true are two immutable, absolute, indisputable, unchangeable, irreversible things we can totally put our faith in.
The Greek word “krateo,” which was translated as “to lay hold” in this verse, means “to use strength, i.e., seize or retain (literally or figuratively)” (Strong’s Concordance). We must seize and hold on to this hope God has given us with all our strength (Mark 12:30).
If God tells us to hold on to the hope He has given us, why do some people advise us to just “let go and let God” when we are faced with a difficult situation?
What does the Word of God say?
“Lay hold of the hope set before us” (Hebrews 6:18). “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life” (1 Timothy 6:12). “I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me” (Philippians 3:12).
Does “letting go and letting God” really press on to lay hold of what Christ has done for us?
When we attempt to make sense of our problems in our own strength and do what we know to do, we ultimately end up defeated. That isn’t faith. Instead of fighting the good fight of faith, we have let go and surrendered to our circumstances when we should be “laying hold” of God’s promises.
Faith is not passive acquiescence. It does not yield to circumstances. Faith brings God's power to overcome circumstances that do not reflect His will.
Faith is not a human determination to bring about change. Faith is the conviction that comes from hearing God and knowing that your circumstances will change if you remain “fully convinced” that whatever God has promised, He can perform (Romans 4:21). How many have lost out on what God promised them because they let go of holding on?
Peace does come from trusting God, yet trusting God is not passive. Trust is an action verb. It is exercising your faith. Trust doesn’t yield to your problem. It is believing God has overcome it. When a person is outwardly unconcerned about his circumstances, you can be sure God’s peace is very active deep within his heart.
God’s peace is His righteous power to stand against the enemy and overcome in your life.
“And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly” (Romans 16:20).
The believer who has a “fully convinced” attitude of faith will continually “see” the victory, declare the Word, and never let go of the promises of God.
God is faithful to His Word and what He has promised. Stir up your faith. Seize and hold on to the victory He has given you with all your strength.
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