Anchored in Christ

Patient would not be the first word I would use to describe myself. I have learned over my years of walking with the Lord that He often requires me to wait upon His timing for the plans He has for my life to unfold. There have been many times in my journey with Jesus that I have become impatient and have tried to make the Lord’s plans happen through my own abilities and strength. Have you been there? This has never ended well for me, and chances are, if you have been there, it hasn’t ended well for you, either. 

The Lord never intended us to live apart from Him. The Bible tells us in John 15:5 that without Him, we can do nothing. It also shows us that when we wait patiently on the Lord, we will receive what God has promised to us. 

Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised. (Hebrews 6:15, NLT)

Just as a boat that isn’t anchored will drift away even in calm waters, the same thing can happen to us when we are not anchored in the Lord. When we place our trust in ourselves and in our own abilities more than we trust in God, we are choosing to build our foundations on shifting sand instead of upon the solid rock that is Jesus Christ. If our foundations are not built upon Jesus Christ, we can find ourselves broken and drifting away from God in seasons of difficulty. When we choose to anchor ourselves to God and His promises, the waves can come and the wind can blow, and we will stay put. This is how we survive the storms in life, choosing to be anchored to the Lord by trusting in His promises and in who He says He is. This is what it looks like to take refuge in him. 

So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. (Hebrews 6:18-19)

I have seen God’s goodness in my own life as I walk in unfamiliar territory as a widow. Since I have chosen to continue to take refuge in the Lord and trust in Him during the most difficult season I have ever walked through, I have peace during the storm. I am anchored to the Lord and holding tightly to the hope that is a strong and trustworthy anchor for my soul. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I am not afraid because I know the Lord is with me. He keeps His promises, and He is working on my behalf because He loves me and has great plans for my life. I will make it through the storm. 

The same is true for you. Whatever you are walking through, the Lord is close to you. He is walking beside you and you can trust Him. Things may not look the way you had hoped they would. Perhaps you are disappointed in how things have turned out. Maybe the waves are crashing against you right now, threatening to overtake you. I encourage you to look to the Lord and choose to be anchored in who He is. He is entirely faithful and completely trustworthy. 

Prayer: Father God, I place my hope and confidence in You, so I can be anchored to You when storms come my way. I choose today to look to You and to trust in You and the promises You have made to me. You are my refuge. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

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Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.