Held Fast by a Holdfast

Last week I drew a bit of inspiration from a current read, essentially a guidebook on the animals found between the tide lines on the Pacific coast. I’m revisiting that same book, Ed Ricketts’ Between Pacific Tides today, on a slightly different topic. A couple of days ago, I began the section on open rocky coasts, an environment rather different from the protected sandy beaches that had previously been covered. Along with the difference in environment – primarily in wave shock, tide exposure, and temperature swings related to the tide – comes a corresponding difference in the organisms that inhabit those spaces. One of the characteristics of many of those creatures is a holdfast, the root-like structure that allows the life form to hold onto the substrate and resist the impact and movement of the crashing surf. Not only does the holdfast prevent the creature itself from being washed away by the tides, it also serves as host to a myriad of other organisms that take shelter and find sustenance within its tendrils. 

The very word “holdfast” reminded me of Hebrews 10:23 – “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” (emphasis added). The broader context of the passage is that Jesus Christ, as our great high priest, intercedes for us before God, securing for us forgiveness and pardon through His death on our behalf; and through Him we can boldly approach the throne of grace. Our hope is in Him who promised, and His faithfulness secures our hope. He is truly our holdfast, anchoring our hope and our faith, sheltering us and preventing us from being swept away by the waves of doubt and tides of life.

Sometimes concepts and ideas stick a little better through music than through reading or anything else. If that’s true for you too, consider listening to Keith and Kristyn Getty’s song “He Will Hold Me Fast“.