We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
(Hebrews 6:19 NIV)
The wind storm was fierce. Its’ howling awoke me from a sound sleep. As I lay, cozy under the blankets, I could hear a loud roaring and flapping, like some huge carpet being shaken in the heavens. I was so alarmed I rose and ventured outside to see from where the noise was emanating. Everything seemed fine, and the noise had deceased, so I returned to my bed.
In the morning, my daughter came over and told me to come and look at something with her. Our 10 by 20-foot steel hay shed had been lifted and moved several inches by the nights ferocious wind storm. This was the noise which I had heard in the darkness but was unable to see due to the tree barrier between my house and the shed. Fortunately, our shed was anchor to the ground and though it moved slightly it was not flipped over or totally torn from its foundation. Within hours my son-in-law had it pushed back squarely onto the foundation and then proceeded to drive in even deeper anchors for protection against the next severe storm which might come our way.
Likewise, today’s scripture ensures that we, as God’s people also have an anchor: an anchor for our souls that holds us firm and secure against the storms of life. Our belief in Jesus Christ is our hope now and for eternity. Our trust in Christ ties us to Him, our Saviour, who even now abides in heaven with God our Father and is busy preparing a place there for us. This anchor of hope is secure because through His written word, God has said so, and God is unable to lie, His word is true and firm now and forever. (John 14:1-14, Hebrews 6:18)
Life will seek to beat against us with its often-ferocious winds of suffering, turmoil, confusion and discouragement. It may at times even begin to cause us to doubt God’s eternal love and care, threatening to shift us off our foundation of faith. Amidst it all however, Christ, our hope, the anchor of our souls, will never leave nor forsake us. His Holy Spirit within our hearts will continue to comfort, encourage and remind us through the Scriptures and his still small voice within us, to whom we belong, seeking constantly to gently move us back to our firm foundation of faith. Therefore, let us pray that these truths might be driven more and more deeply within our hearts and minds and wills so that no matter what may blow our way, our faith shall not be moved or shaken for our anchor shall hold firm.
Prayer: Father God grant us a hunger and thirst to know the truth of both your written word, the Scriptures and your living Word, Jesus Christ, who is the hope that anchors our souls, so that our faith might never be shaken nor moved. In Christ’s name we ask. Amen.
Lynne Phipps
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada