Holding Fast to Eternal Promises: Finding Peace in a Shifting World
by Alexia Jons
When the Temporary Starts to Tremble
You don’t need to watch the evening news for long to feel it: the world is changing—fast. Cultural values are constantly in flux. Institutions that once felt unshakable (governments, churches, even families) are being tested. People are increasingly unsure of what to believe, whom to trust, and how to live with peace in the middle of it all.
Yet tucked within the letter to the Hebrews is a radical invitation:
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful…”
(Hebrews 12:28)
Pause and read that again.
We are not hoping for stability—we are receiving it.
The verse doesn’t say one day we’ll enter into something secure; it says we are already inheriting a kingdom that cannot be moved, cracked, or broken by the pressures of this life. That’s not just theology—that’s survival.
Eternity Isn’t Abstract. It’s Practical.
Sometimes we treat eternal truths like they’re floating somewhere “out there”—beautiful ideas, but not quite applicable to our day-to-day grind. But the promise of God’s unchanging nature is not philosophical padding. It’s oxygen.
When you feel like the floor is falling out from under you emotionally, spiritually, or financially—eternity becomes incredibly practical.
The promise that God does not change (Malachi 3:6), that His Word will endure forever (Isaiah 40:8), and that His mercy is new each morning (Lamentations 3:22-23) isn’t religious filler. It’s the very thing that keeps us from collapsing under pressure.
Eternity gives us context when we’re in pain. It gives us patience when we’re in transition. And it gives us peace when we’re surrounded by noise.
Lessons from an Old Hymn: More Than Nostalgia
“Time is filled with swift transition…”
(Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand, 1905)
Over a century ago, in a period of racial injustice, economic disparity, and social change, Jennie Wilson wrote the words to what would become one of the most enduring hymns in American Christian history: Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand.
This wasn’t just poetic reflection. It was a lifeline—especially for Black communities in America who found in God’s faithfulness a refuge from the world’s cruelty.
The hymn became an anthem not because it was beautiful (though it was), but because it was true.
“Build your hopes on things eternal / Hold to God’s unchanging hand.”
That one line carries a kind of spiritual defiance. It says, Yes, the world is breaking—but I won’t break with it.
It’s not a passive kind of faith. It’s gritty. It’s determined. It’s faith that refuses to let go of the hand that never lets go.
How Do We Hold On Today? (Real Talk)
It’s easy to romanticize faith when you’re reading from a quiet living room or listening to a worship song in church. But what about when you’re going through divorce? Or facing job loss? Or grieving the death of someone you prayed would be healed?
How do you actually hold fast when life feels like it’s unraveling?
Let’s get real:
1. Name What’s Shaking You
Faith doesn’t deny reality. It stares it in the face. Be honest with God. Journal it. Pray it out. What’s shaking your world right now? Is it fear of the future? A diagnosis? Disappointment in people?
God doesn’t heal what we pretend isn’t hurting.
2. Reframe the Shaking as a Gift
What if the shaking in your life is a divine mercy?
Hebrews 12:27 says God allows the “removal of what can be shaken” so that “what is unshakable may remain.” Sometimes, when our lives are being rattled, it’s not punishment—it’s purification.
God strips away what’s temporary so we can cling more tightly to what is eternal.
3. Choose to Build on Bedrock
Jesus said those who hear His words and put them into practice are like people who build their house on rock (Matthew 7:24–27). When—not if—the storm comes, they don’t fall apart.
Peace doesn’t come from avoiding storms. It comes from building on the Rock before they hit.
Ask yourself: What am I building my peace on right now? Is it approval? Control? Routine? Or God Himself?
4. Revisit the Promises Daily
Not occasionally—daily. Read them. Repeat them. Pray them aloud. Eternal promises are like spiritual muscle memory: the more we return to them, the faster our hearts recall them in crisis.
Verses like:
● “The Lord is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
(Psalm 46:1)
● “He will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deut. 31:6)
● “My peace I give you… not as the world gives.” (John 14:27)
These aren’t clichés. They’re survival codes.
5. Surround Yourself With Eternity-Minded People
Who you walk with matters. Get around people who won’t just sympathize with your pain—but will remind you of your place in God’s bigger story. Community doesn’t erase the pain, but it anchors us through it.
The Eternal Perspective Is Not Escapism—It’s Clarity
Some might say focusing on eternity is naïve or detached from real-world problems. But in truth, eternity doesn’t pull us away from the world—it gives us strength to stay faithful in it.
When you remember that your story doesn’t end here—that your life is part of something unshakable, unstoppable, and eternal—you begin to walk with more courage, more peace, and more clarity.
You don’t crumble when the world does.
You don’t compromise when the culture shifts.
You don’t despair when doors close.
Because you know Who holds the end of the story—and you’ve chosen to hold His unchanging hand.
Final Thought: Don’t Just Hold On—Be Held
Holding fast to God’s eternal promises isn’t about striving harder. It’s not white-knuckle faith. It’s about trusting that He is already holding you.
“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
(John 10:28)
So breathe.
Rest.
Let go of what’s crumbling.
And hold on to what will never fade: the eternal promises of a God who never changes—and never lets go.
Author’s Bio: Alexia writes on Christianity, with a heart for helping young people engage with Biblical truth in a world that often feels uncertain. Through her writing, Alexia encourages families and individuals to anchor themselves in God’s unchanging promises and grow in faith that’s both practical and deeply rooted in Scripture. Outside of writing, Alexia enjoys capturing beauty through photography and spending quality time with her family.
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