Chapter 9: The Rapture of Church

The Blessed Hope That Anchors the Soul

Hope is the anchor of the soul. Without it, people drift into despair; with it, they endure the darkest storms. The ministry of soul care must always lead believers to the hope of Christ’s return.

Pastor Chuck Smith taught the blessed hope with great conviction. He often said, “I am not looking for death—I’m looking for Jesus.” That expectancy shaped the way he ministered to those in pain. Hope in Christ’s return reminds us that the trials of this life are temporary and that glory is coming.

In counseling, this eschatological hope becomes practical encouragement. The Ministering Servant helps the Disciple in Care to fix their eyes not on circumstances, but on the promises of God. Romans 15:13 says, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

At the Calvary Chapel Fellowship of Biblical Counselors, we teach that biblical hope is not wishful thinking—it is confident expectation based on God’s Word. It anchors the heart in who God is and what He has promised. As believers learn to “wait for His Son from heaven” (1 Thessalonians 1:10), fear loses its grip, anxiety fades, and endurance grows.

Pastor Bob Hoekstra often described hope as “the forward look of faith.” He explained that grace has a past, a present, and a future: grace has saved us, grace sustains us, and grace will one day glorify us. Hope is the believer’s spiritual horizon—it draws the heart toward eternity while empowering obedience today.

The Ministering Servant must continually help others rediscover that perspective. The Disciple in Care who clings to the blessed hope will find courage to endure, patience to wait, and peace that surpasses understanding.

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil.”

Hebrews 6:19