Mature in Hope: Growing Through Storms, Not Around Them
Pastor Victoria Sowell
We live in a culture obsessed with progress — constantly upgrading, advancing, and optimizing. Yet many of us find ourselves restless and weary, chasing “more” without feeling more whole. The message from Hebrews 5–6 reminds us that spiritual maturity isn’t about doing more; it’s about becoming more like Christ. Real growth happens when we stay rooted in Him long enough for His Spirit to shape us from the inside out. Click the link above for the full message.
A Better High Priest: Understanding Who Holds Us
Before we talk about growing mature in faith, we have to understand the foundation it stands on — Jesus as our High Priest. In Hebrews 5:1–6, we’re reminded that every high priest was appointed by God to represent the people, to stand in the gap between God and humanity. The priest offered sacrifices for sin not because he was perfect, but because he understood weakness.
Jesus, too, was appointed — not self-made, not self-elevated. The Father declared, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” His priesthood wasn’t human ambition; it was divine appointment. He understands the pull of temptation, the pain of obedience, and the cost of surrender — yet He remained without sin.
That truth means we no longer need to prove ourselves worthy or carry shame into God’s presence. Every prayer, every cry, every whisper is met not by judgment but by mercy. Maturity begins here — in the confidence that we are fully known and fully loved.
Salvation Through Suffering: Learning Obedience in the Hard Places
Hebrews 5:7–10 paints an honest picture of Jesus praying “with loud cries and tears.” He wasn’t spared from suffering — He was strengthened through it. “Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered.” Obedience, then, isn’t theoretical. It’s learned in the real pain of surrender.
When we suffer, when we face heartbreak or delay, our response reveals where our trust lies. Jesus’ suffering wasn’t wasted; it was formative. And because He endured perfectly, He became “the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”
Our hope doesn’t rest on our flawless obedience — it rests on His. When life feels heavy and faith feels like effort, we can find peace in knowing that the One who calls us has already walked the path before us. That’s the kind of Savior who can hold us steady in every storm.
Time to Grow Up: From Milk to Solid Food
In Hebrews 5:11–14, there’s a firm but loving challenge. The author says, “By this time you ought to be teachers, yet you need someone to teach you again.” It’s a wake-up call — not of shame, but of invitation. Many of us have heard enough truth to guide others, but we still act like spiritual infants.
Growth requires intention. We can’t live forever on milk — the basics of faith. Maturity means learning to digest solid truth, even when it’s convicting. It’s about aligning our lives with who God is and who He’s called us to be.
Jesus once said, “Every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” Growth often feels uncomfortable because it involves removal. God prunes not to punish us, but to prepare us for greater fruitfulness.
Ask yourself:
In what areas am I staying comfortable when God is calling me deeper?
What truths have I learned but not yet lived?
The Warning and the Promise: Staying Anchored When Faith Feels Fragile
Hebrews 6:1–6 warns against complacency and spiritual drift. It urges believers to “move beyond the elementary teachings” and press on to maturity. The danger isn’t doubt — it’s deliberate detachment.
The passage about those who have “fallen away” is not aimed at those struggling or questioning. It’s describing those who once embraced Christ but then deliberately reject Him. In today’s world, many people are deconstructing their faith — not out of rebellion, but heartbreak. Disappointment, hurt, or unmet expectations can create deep fractures in belief.
Even in that space, Jesus meets us — not with condemnation, but with compassion and truth. It’s not our job to judge; it’s our calling to pray, to love, and to ask God how He might use us in the stories of those who have walked away.
Faith isn’t fragile. But it requires action. Without effort to nurture it, we risk losing sight of our first love. Maturity doesn’t mean constant victory — it means steady endurance.
God Remembers: Encouragement for the Weary Heart
After the heavy warning, Hebrews 6 shifts into reassurance: “Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case.” These words breathe life into weary souls. God is not unjust — He remembers every act of love, every unseen moment of service.
When you feel unnoticed, God sees you. When you feel like your prayers don’t echo beyond the ceiling, He hears. The call to maturity isn’t about performance; it’s about faith and patience. It’s about showing up when you’d rather give up.
Abraham’s story becomes our example. He waited decades for God’s promise — and he waited faithfully. His hope wasn’t in timing or circumstance but in a God who cannot lie.
Faith moves us forward; patience keeps us there.
Hope as an Anchor for the Soul
Hebrews 6:19 says, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” What a powerful image. An anchor doesn’t stop the waves; it keeps the ship from drifting when they come.
We often want life without storms, but maturity means learning to stay steady within them. The mature believer isn’t the one who avoids storms — it’s the one who stays anchored in them.
Tim Keller once said, “The gospel is not that we hold on to God, but that He holds on to us.” That’s the kind of assurance that sustains us when our grip feels weak. God’s faithfulness holds stronger than any force that could shake us.
When the diagnosis arrives, when the job is lost, when the prayer seems unanswered — it’s not perfect faith that keeps us afloat, but a perfect God who never lets go.
Living with Anchored Maturity
Maturity isn’t measured by how much we know; it’s revealed by how much we endure. Anyone can start well — maturity is about finishing faithfully.
When faith matures, it transforms every part of life:
Worship shifts from “What do I get?” to “What do I bring?”
Prayer changes from “God, fix this” to “God, form me.”
Waiting evolves from “Why me?” to “What are You teaching me?”
To mature in hope means to live anchored, not anxious. It means to trust that God’s pruning is preparation, His delays are development, and His promises are dependable.
The goal isn’t comfort — it’s Christlikeness. And as we become more like Him, we become more unshakable.
Reflection for Growth
Take a quiet moment to reflect and ask yourself:
Am I living like I still have to earn what Jesus already gave freely?
Where have I chosen comfort instead of growth?
Am I bringing my doubts and pain to God, or letting them distance me from Him?
Is my hope truly anchored in Jesus — or in something temporary?
Spiritual maturity doesn’t come from perfection. It comes from perseverance — from allowing God’s steady love to reshape our hearts, one storm at a time.
Further Reading
“Don’t Waste Your Waiting” by John Piper (Desiring God)
“When Life Feels Unsteady: Anchored Hope” by Christine Caine
Other Links
Want to hear more? Check out last week’s message titled, “Firm Foundation: Built on the Rock” on View Church’s YouTube Channel.
Explore resources and Bible study tools at www.viewchurch.co/resources.