I love what John Bunyan has said: "Faith is the anchor which enters within the veil; Christ in us the hope
of glory is the mighty cable which keeps us fast to that anchor. 'Faith
lays hold of that end of the promise that is nearest to us, to wit, in
the Bible -- Hope lays hold of that end that is fastened to the
mercy-seat.' Thus the soul is kept by the mighty power of God. They who
have no hope, enter Doubting Castle of their own free will -- they place
themselves under the tyranny of Giant Despair -- that he may put out
their eyes, and send them to stumble among the tombs, and leave their
bones in his castle-yard, a trophy to his victories, and a terror to any
poor pilgrim caught by him trespassing on Bye-path Meadow. Hope is as a guardian angel -- it enables us to come boldly to a throne
of grace 'in a goodly sort.' The subject is full of consolation. Are we
profanely apt to judge of God harshly, as of one that would gather
where he had not strawn? Hope leads us to form a holy and just
conception of the God of love."
Charles Spurgeon once said, "We make our troubles much greater than they need be by turning them over, considering them from all points of view, weighing them and meditating on them..."
Doubting Castle and all castles weren't just built upon the ground, their builders trenched down to the bedrock, they stood tall and foreboding, speaking loudly of the Lord of the Castle's power. Let's consider what Spurgeon said above. When we've allowed ourselves to end up in Doubting Castle, stuck there, we ponder every angle of assailing troubles until the doubts take hold and like black shadowy fowls, they nest in our minds. Quickly, they hatch and the offspring of doubts sting our thoughts and sap our peace. But reach out one hand and remember to take hold of the scarlet thread of the Bloodline of Jesus Christ! Remember the words of John Bunyan above that hope is anchored by faith to the mercy seat of God.
English author, William Gurnall said, "Hope fills the afflicted soul with such inward joy and consolation (balm of hope-filled encouragement - Barbara's definition), that it can laugh while tears are in the eye, sigh and sing all in a breath; it is called "the rejoicing of hope" (Hebrews 3:6b).
