Stand firm and hold fast!

Christine Colliar November 14, 2025 0 5

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2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 (NRSVA)

1 As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction. 4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you?

13 But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, 17 comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.

Faith is not static. It is lived amid shifting times, changing stories, and competing truths. The Thessalonian church knew this well. Their young faith was under strain, their hope tested by confusion and fear. Paul’s words come as a steadying hand, ‘...stand firm and hold fast...’

Worship is where that holding happens. Each prayer, each reading, each song roots us again in the story that defines us, the story of Christ’s love that has already claimed us. In worship, we are reminded of who we are and whose we are. We are anchored by the eternal word.

When voices rise together, the sound itself becomes an act of standing firm — hearts are strengthened, minds steadied, faith renewed. In times of uncertainty, the gathered community is a living reminder that God is not shaken, and neither need we be.
Worship roots us in relationship, sustained by grace.

To think about:

How has worship helped you or your community stay grounded through uncertainty?
What parts of your worship life feel most ‘rooted’ and which might need renewing?
What does it mean to ‘stand firm’ in faith without becoming inflexible?

Prayer: (To the tune of ‘Come, thou fount of every blessing’)

Root us again, O Lord of mercy,
deep in the soil of love and grace.
When winds of doubt begin to gather,
hold us secure in your embrace.

Firm in our praise, yet open-hearted,
grounded in truth, yet full of song.
May every act of worship anchor
hearts in the hope to which we belong.

Amen