Dear Christian, He Will Hold You Fast

Have you ever felt like you were slipping out of Christ’s grasp? That your sin and struggles would push away His love for you and dry up His mercies once and for all? It is easy for my mind to slip into thinking these untrue and unbiblical beliefs, and it’s a depressing and miserable place to be.

I often need to remember that when Christ saved me from sin and death, it was not a temporary fix but an eternal one. For Jesus “is able to save to the uttermost, those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).

If you aren’t familiar with the Getty’s hymn, “He Will Hold Me Fast,” it is a wonderful song of assurance of Christ’s ability to uphold the believer through doubt and struggle. Allow me to walk you through some of the beautiful lyrics.

“When I fear my faith will fail…”

When we’re afraid, we tend to look inward at ourselves, or outward at our circumstances. But no self-help book or exercise can ease the fear that grips us. Anything that points us to self is a trap since Jesus is the only one who can calm our fears.

When our eyes are on the storm, they aren’t focused on the One who can calm them.

Sometimes I become afraid that I will lose my faith. But that fear is rooted in a lie; for if Christ fails in any way to keep His promises, He will cease to be perfectly righteous and steadfast in keeping us faithful to Himself.

Instead of looking inward or outward, look upward. When you are filled with fear, Christ will hold you fast.

“When the tempter would prevail…”

Satan delights in shifting our eyes to anything else but Christ and His goodness. For me, my to-do list, devices, and activities often take first place in my heart and once my eyes are away from Christ, Satan starts to win.

It can feel like I have an impossible enemy to resist, until I open the Word and see that the battle has already been won!

The devil will prevail in our lives here on earth, tempting us left and right because we live in a broken and sinful world. But we can take heart, submit ourselves to God and resist the devil and his temptations because we know who will have the final say (James 4:7).

Though the tempter may prevail, Christ will hold you fast.

“I could never keep my hold…”

Life on earth can be fearful, lonely, and discouraging. We cannot keep hold of Christ on our own through the dark valleys. So, we must have Someone to guide us.

In John 10:11, Jesus tells us, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

And He is a good Shepherd. The very best. We never have to fear walking alone and trying so desperately to hold on to our faith because we fear one more mistake will end His mercy towards us. His hand will never let us go.

Through life’s fearful and unknown path, Christ will hold you fast.

“For my love is often cold…”

My love for Jesus can quickly turn from bursting with praise to all parched and unfeeling. I often cease to remember how much I’ve been saved from and given through His blood.

We read a beautiful promise in Jeremiah 24:7, “I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be My people and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.”

Christ can make even the stoniest of hearts soft again and soften yours if you only ask Him.

When your love for Him grows cold, Christ will hold you fast.

“Those He saves are His delight…”

God is a devoted Father to His children. We see throughout the Bible that He takes great delight in His people, the ones who obey and follow His commands.

Have you ever thought of yourself as a delight to God? He didn’t save you because you try not to sin or because you live a “pretty good” life. He saved you because He loves you!

Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing.”

Sometimes my sin blinds my eyes to the grace that has been given to me and I lose sight of what I have been given through Christ and that He loves and delights in me.

He rejoices in you too, dear Christian!

“He’ll not let my soul be lost, His promises shall last!”

People fail. A lot. They fail to keep their word, fail to measure up, fail to fill up the emptiness inside of us. And it can hurt deeply when those we love let us down, disappoint, or deceive us.

But we can find great joy and comfort in knowing One who is forever faithful. In Him our eternity is secure, and His promises will never end!

Christ is all you need for lasting joy and peace, and He will hold you fast.