Written by MayBell Developments – September 26th, 2023
Do you ever feel like you’ve been adrift through your life? That things happen around you and you have no control over anything, sometimes even your own actions?
The author of Hebrews creates for us an illustration of an anchor. In the passage, he is talking about God’s promise to Abraham to “bless [him] and multiply [him]. A promise that extends far beyond Abraham flowing through Jesus Christ.
“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain” Hebrews 6:19
When you envision an anchor what do you imagine it is used for? Many people who picture an anchor in use see a storm of high waves and strong winds and an anchor firmly in place to save those aboard from being dashed against the rocks. Certainly, an anchor would be helpful in this case. To be kept safe from the terrors of life’s storms.
One use that is likely not thought of as often, at least one I hadn’t thought of until it was mentioned in a sermon I recently listened to (though I was born and raised on the prairies!). An anchor helps to keep the ship from drifting. Without an anchor, the ship would simply drift away from port or find itself easily off course.
At times in our lives when we feel the waters are rocky and the storm surrounds us we often find it easy to reach out for an anchor. These are the times that we search for something to hold us steady as the storms of life rage around us. And plenty of people will find Jesus in these storms.
After all our “anchor of the soul” is “a hope” which translates from elpis or the anticipation of eternal salvation. Eternal salvation can come only from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Jesus is the way to that hope. Jesus is our anchor. The one we seek in turbulent times.
But we don’t find ourselves being shaken by storms on a daily basis. Storms happen, maybe even more often than we would like. Yet, I think we can all agree, and be thankful, that life storms are infrequent. It is more likely in our day-to-day lives that we would find ourselves drifting along with the tide. Going about our activities almost mindlessly. In these times we aren’t as likely to reach out for someone to steady ourselves on. We don’t feel the need. We are self-sufficient. We’ve got this. Right?
Until we don’t.
If you drift long enough you may find yourself looking around and wondering where you are and how you got here.
How do we stop the drift? Keep Jesus as your anchor every day. Not simply when you feel as though you need an anchor but especially on days when you feel like “you’ve got this”. Our eternal hope in Jesus IS the anchor of our soul. So let’s focus on him.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. – Colossians 3:1-4
Set your focus on Jesus, our sure and steadfast anchor. Get in His Word, pray, and listen. Allow Him to calm the waters so you can hear His gentle voice speaking into your heart.
On the wall in my office hangs a colouring page. I printed this page off at a time when MayBell had become overwhelming and I was feeling the storms of life. The page reads “God’s got this”
I repeat this to myself often, even on days when the storms aren’t raging. Maybe we all need a sign to let us know that no matter what the season, whether we are battling the high seas or drifting through sunny days, God is our anchor, our focus, and our salvation. God’s got this.
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