Matt Merker, Director of Creative Resources for Getty Music, first introduced the hymn, “He Will Hold Me Fast,” to Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington, DC, in 2013. The words of this iconic song, written over a hundred years ago, ministered especially to Matt during a season in which he was wrestling with his faith and struggling to trust the enduring power of God’s preserving grace.[1] Matt’s decision to re-discover this old hymn has led to its extreme popularity in Christian worship services, encouraging believers to hold fast to their faith in the midst of difficult times, whether dealing with anxiety, fear, suffering, persecution, or death.
“Hold fast” is a nautical term that originated during the days of wooden sailing ships. When sailors at sea spotted a raging storm headed their way, they would tell each other to hold fast, meaning to cling to, grasp, hold firmly, or grab onto the rigging or something secure that had weathered previous storms to prevent them from being swept overboard.
The Bible has many references to the phrase “hold fast.” Deuteronomy 10:20 commands us to fear the Lord your God and worship Him. Remain faithful to Him (literally, hold fast, stick to the Lord like glue).
Proverbs 4:4 says, “Your heart must hold [fast] to my words. Keep my commands and live.”
Paul writes, “Hold [fast] to what is good” (1 Thess. 5:21), and “hold [fast] to the pattern of sound teaching … that are in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 1:13).
In Revelation, Jesus exhorts believers, “I am coming soon. Hold [fast] to what you have, so that no one takes your crown” (Rev. 3:11).
On March 18, The Honorable Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, delivered opening testimony at a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing for the Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community. Her report listed several areas that most threaten the American people and the nation’s ability to live in a peaceful, free, secure, and prosperous society. These emerging challenges include a disruption of U.S. health and safety infrastructure, increasing violent extremists and lone wolf attacks, the rise of transnational criminal organizations, the growing threat of a nuclear attack, an increase in malicious drone activity, cyberterrorism, and large-scale military operations.
The report also emphasized the need for a “whole nation approach” that integrates local, state, and national resource capabilities and networks to preserve the freedom and values of the nation. Local and governmental organizations and agencies, nonprofit organizations, and churches must work together to aid and assist our local communities impacted by a gathering storm of threats.
Chaplains, that’s where you come in. We’re living in a time when people are looking for something to hold onto, grasp, and cling to during this present storm. I implore you to hold fast to your faith in Jesus Christ and His eternal promises.
Hold fast to your calling to the chaplaincy ministry.
Hold fast to taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Hold fast in love and prayer to those under your pastoral care who need you, trust you, and want you there with them.
Hold fast to the weak, weary, and wounded who rely on you daily as a messenger of hope.
Hold fast to your commitment to self-care through your daily spiritual disciplines, physical fitness, and rest.
Hold fast to your family and friends whom God has given you for companionship and encouragement.
Hold fast to your sending church for their intercessory prayer and loving support.
The theme verse for SBC 2025 in Dallas is Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold [fast] to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.” Perhaps there’s no more timely and prophetic verse for Southern Baptists right now than the charge to hold fast and cling to our God, who is Faithful and True.
Beloved Chaplains, “Hold fast!”
[1] Chris Fenner, “When I Fear My Faith May Fail”, Hymnology Archive, March 24, 2025, https://www.hymnologyarchive.com/he-will-hold-me-fast