In my early twenties, I struggled frequently about finding the purpose for my life. After I graduated college, I attended the Infantry Officer Basic Course and then started a great job at Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati. I waffled back and forth between staying at P&G and making the Army a fulltime career. This went on for years. Even after I left my job for the Army, I often second-guessed my decision.
Tossed About
I was a Believer, but young in my faith. I lacked a solid foundation, an anchor tethering me to the truth. I didn’t trust God to lead me or myself to make the right decision, the latter of which was probably a good thing. I was like the man described in James 1:6, tossed about “like a wave of the sea.”
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. (James 1:6 NIV)
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| Photo by Jyrki Salmi; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode |
Without an anchor, a stationary ship will roll aimlessly in choppy waves, breaking its moorings and drifting to an unintended destination. In the midst of a fierce storm, a ship deploys a sea anchor, which doesn’t tether it to the ocean floor, but rather slows its drift to provide better control. In either situation, the anchor provides stability to an otherwise volatile situation. We all need an anchor in our lives.
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. (Hebrews 6:19a NIV)
Tethered to Hope
What is this hope that the author of Hebrews speaks of? It’s the certainty of God’s promises. God made an oath to Abraham that he would have many descendants, and the Lord fulfilled that oath after Abraham’s patient waiting (v. 15).
It’s been a rather rough week for me. I’m feeling the effects of chemotherapy. I’ve felt generally bad most days and haven’t had much energy. Thankfully, my GVHD has improved, although I still have some other ailments to contend with. I haven’t worked out in almost a week.
But of all the bad days I’ve had over the last fifteen months, not a one has killed me yet. Every time I’ve gone to sleep at night, I’ve still woken up the next morning. I may feel worse than the day before, but every morning I’ve had a pulse and a hope for a better tomorrow.
My anchor in these times is God’s Word. Reading it doesn’t suddenly make my pain go away, but it does remind me that God is true to His promises. If I can endure and wait patiently as Abraham did, then I know that God, who cannot lie, will fulfill his promises to me.
What’s your anchor? Is it another person? A bank account? I submit to you if it’s anything other than God’s Word, it will eventually fail you. “Positive thoughts” and “positive energy” are nice platitudes, but they hold no true power and meaning. A determined will is essential to survive life’s storms, but without the person of Jesus, our Cornerstone, it’s not enough.
Without an anchor, we drift aimlessly among life’s storms, headed for destruction. The confidence of God’s promises secures us, providing hope in hopeless situations. He is our rock, our foundation, our fortress, and our anchor, immovable in the worst of circumstances. Cling to him; He won’t let go.