Hebrews 6:12 gives us a simple but powerful reminder: “Do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” In plain words, God is telling us not to grow lazy, tired, or careless in our walk with Him. Instead, we are to follow the example of people who trusted God and kept going until they saw His promises come to pass.
The Bible shows us that receiving God’s promises often requires two things working together: faith and patience. Faith means trusting who God is, even when we cannot see the answer yet. Patience means continuing to trust Him while we wait, even when the waiting feels long, difficult, or confusing.
Being “sluggish” does not just mean being physically lazy. It means becoming slow to respond to God. It can happen when disappointment, delay, distractions, or discouragement make us stop praying, stop believing, stop obeying, or stop expecting God to move. We may still believe in God, but our hearts can become dull and inactive.
Abraham is one of the clearest examples of this. God gave him a promise, but Abraham had to wait many years before he saw it fulfilled. His faith was not perfect every moment, but he kept holding on to what God said. That is the kind of faith Hebrews is pointing us to: faith that keeps standing, keeps trusting, and keeps moving forward.
Sometimes we think waiting means doing nothing, but biblical patience is not passive. It is active trust. It is praying while you wait. It is obeying while you wait. It is praising while you wait. It is choosing not to quit just because the promise has not shown up yet.
Hebrews 6 also says that our hope is like an anchor for the soul. That means God’s promises keep us steady when life feels like a storm. Just like an anchor holds a ship in place, hope in Christ holds our hearts steady when circumstances are shaking around us.
So if you are waiting on God today, do not give up. Do not become spiritually lazy or discouraged. Keep believing. Keep praying. Keep obeying. Keep your eyes on Jesus. God has not forgotten His promises, and He cannot lie. What He has spoken, He is faithful to fulfill in His perfect time.
Minister A Francine Green I July 2026