Stay-Fixed
Life can be stormy; ministry brings plenty of storms too. When ships are out at sea and encounter a storm typically anchors are deployed to help with navigation and control.
Anchors are interesting things. There are many types of anchors that are used today, each type used for a differing purpose. The interesting thing is that generally anchors are not used to tie a boat or ship to shore, typically that is done using a simple rope attached between the vessel and a mooring. Anchors generally are used when away from the coast, out at sea. Sometimes they are used to either grab a rock on the seabed, at times to bury into a sandy area on the seabed, both with the purpose of fixing the boat to a particular position.
In Stormy Seas
Other anchors, sea anchors have a different purpose. These anchors are not used in shallow water but rather far out in the depths and often when the sea is stormy. Sea anchors are deployed not to fix the ship in a permanent location but are used to control the motion of the ship when the external forces of the storm try to deflect it from its course or purpose. When fastened to the rear or stern of the ship they help the ship point downwind and avoid dangerous cross waves that would swamp the deck and easily capsize the vessel.
Don’t Run
This is the very tactic mentioned in Acts 27, used to try and save the ship carrying Paul from being shipwrecked. Pointing downwind, effectively running with the storm, seems counter-intuitive, when we encounter difficulties our gut reaction is often to run and hide from them. We need to remember that with God as our anchor we can face every wave of discouragement and every wave of attack. With God as our anchor we can face every wave of discouragement and every wave of attack. Click To Tweet
God is Our Anchor
We all have storms in life, issues to overcome, situations to navigate. In ministry, things don’t get any easier and ministry brings plenty of storms of its own. However, the good news is God’s presence, and the promises and guidance found in His Word can be for us the anchor that gets us through the storms without us feeling swamped or the mission capsizing. We have a choice to involve God at these times or not, we don’t have the luxury of remaining in the harbour or avoiding storms, we need to fulfil our call, and where we are fulfilling the call, there will be obstacles to overcome.
Will your anchor hold in the storms of life?
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.
