Still Water, And A Deep Anchor

As I sit here this morning with my journal, my home is peacefully quiet. All I hear is the soft
crackling of a little candle I love to light next to my chair. It feels like total peace – after
a VERY turbulent month. Not a “bad” month but just out of the norm, that was more of a marathon
than a sprint.

As I turn the pages of my journal, I notice something that made me stop for a minute….

there were several sketches throughout my journal of anchors, sketched at different times throughout
this year.

I had written Hebrews 6:19 in the margin days ago, and scattered around it are these very
elementary, almost childlike sketches of anchors. I am creative but not at all an artist. Just
simple anchors – but they carry weight. No pun intended!

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” -Hebrews 6:19

Suddenly it makes sense why those anchors keep showing up in my journal. Because Jesus is my anchor. 

Not the fulfiller of my long list of desires.

Not the genie of my countless prayers.

Not the one who smooths out every wave or quiets every storm.

He is the One who keeps me steady. The One who holds me securely where I am.
The One who keeps me from drifting when life tries so hard to pull me under.
Some days, the waters are peaceful – cool and calm. There are days where everything
feels manageable, gentle, and steady. Days where I can breathe deeply and feel the quiet.

And then there are days when the world feels wild. Days when the storm is so fierce I’m
struggling to keep my head above water. Days when I don’t even recognize my surroundings
– when everything feels chaotic, unfamiliar, overwhelming, where I feel I am being pulled in so many
directions……..

Yet when the storm clouds finally break… When the sun peeks out from behind the
darkness… When the waves settle and the noise quiets…

I find myself anchored in the same still place. Exactly where He kept me safe. Exactly
where He held me secure. Exactly where He never let me drift, and I am back in this little
chair with new mercies each morning. Walking with Jesus never promised me a perfect, simple life.

The Bible tells me clearly in Matthew 28 that I just like you will have troubles – but it also tells me HE has overcome this world. 

So, when I look back at the storms I’ve survived, I have to ask myself,
Was I doggy-paddling in my own strength, fighting to stay alive? Or was I holding onto Jesus, my anchor
like a life raft, trusting Him to pull me through?

There are so many times that I have fought in my own strength and just as many times when I clung to
Jesus, looking back the struggles were just as great but how I felt coming out of those
storms were very different when HE was the life raft!

Who or what is your “anchor”?  Are you doggy-paddling or just trusting and hanging on to your life raft? 

This storm you are in right now will pass and I pray you find yourself on still water with your “anchor” secure.

Lord, may I always choose the second. May I always hold onto You instead of exhausting
myself, trying to save myself. May I come out of the storm not drained and depleted, but
strengthened – knowing I clung to You, my Anchor.

Lord, You are my anchor. Firm. Secure. Steady…………..And ALWAYS Faithful.