He Will Hold Me Fast. I’ve been listening to this Selah song a lot lately as we have continued to struggle with direction of the ministry Ross has stepped into at the church He planted over 35 years ago. On top of that I’ve had a rash of different challenges that have taken so much of our time to manage, and can I be honest here, it has been exhausting.

After returning from our vacation Ross had a few meetings with the elders and senior leadership at church that led to him giving his resignation. With this sudden shift in his ministry, along with everything else in life, all I could do was beg God to hold me fast.

But then, I was like, “what does that really mean?”

Hold Fast is a nautical term that has its origins from the Dutch word “houd vast” which translates to “HOLD TIGHT” in regard to holding securely to the ship’s ropes and rigging.

Digging deeper the dictionary shows to hold fast is to stay strong, do what is right, see it through, no surrender (to the enemy), stay true, continue to believe.

If you hold fast to a principle or idea or if you stand fast, YOU DO NOT CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT IT, EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO PERSUADE YOU TO.

Holdfasts are defined as something to which something else may be firmly secured. Hmmmm, so God is our holdfast and we are firmly secured to Him! And based on the above, in every struggle and affliction, the truth is God will do what is right, see us through, protect us from giving in to the enemy, stay true to His character and continue to believe in us as His children.

He does not change His mind about us, and we will be more and more conformed to His likeness as we learn to stand fast. We will not change our mind about His goodness and His faithfulness and the way He works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Even when the lies of the enemy try to persuade us to change our mind about His goodness, we refuse to cave.

So how do I feel about the changes that have happened this past year, and specifically this week, in the life of my pastor hubby?

What does His resignation mean for us, for our family, and for the church?

How will we see God continue to work after three decades of serving Him at the same church?

And how can we move forward when the weight of everything surrounding our lives is just heavy?

I must know that this is not a surprise to God, and I believe in His sovereignty, and that He will use this fire to further sanctify us and bring us forth as pure gold, with the impurities being burned away.

He has, over these days and weeks, been holding me fast and I am feeling those strong arms around me with each new wave of grief. I think the grieving for Ross will be much heavier than it is for me … yet even though our current reality is shifting, the truth forever remains … He WILL hold me fast.

He Will Hold Me Fast

When I fear my faith will fail,
Christ will hold me fast.
When the tempter would prevail,
He will hold me fast.

I could never keep my hope
through life’s fearful path.
For my love is often cold,
He must hold me fast.

Chorus

He will hold me fast,
He will hold me fast.
For my savior loves me so,
He will hold me fast.

Those He saves are His delight,
Christ will hold me fast.
Precious in His Holy sight,
He will hold me fast.

He’ll not let my soul be lost,
His promises shall last.
Bought by Him at such a cost,
He will hold me fast.

For my life He bled and died,
Christ will hold me fast.
Justice has been satisfied,
He will hold me fast.

Raised with Him to endless life,
He will hold me fast.
Till my faith is turned to sight
when He comes at last.

Are you needing God to hold you fast today? Can you feel Him doing so?

Thanks for spending time with me today!
Athena