We all float on the sea of life. Our ships rise and fall with circumstances, and complications batter us. In these uncertain days, we never know from one minute to the next what news we will hear. Without question, we need an anchor that keeps us steady!
Some people rely on education. For others, it’s health or wealth. These are good areas to develop, but it’s not enough to anchor our souls. None of it can bring salvation or free us from the bondage of Satan. True stability comes when we set our anchor in Christ.
Hebrews 6:18–20 (NLT)
18 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.
19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.
20 Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
If anything is strong in our lives, it should be our anchor! Our lives and safety depend on it. When the winds of change and adversity are howling, we need something to hold on to—and not just any doctrine that floats around. God’s Word is a rock that will not be washed away by the storm!
When we are overworked and exhausted, the anchor of hope gives us fresh energy. When we are discouraged, hope lifts our spirits. When we are tempted to quit, the anchor of hope keeps us going. When we lose our way and confusion blurs our destination, hope removes panic. When fear grips us and says it’s all over, hope reminds us that we are still anchored to the rock.
When fear grips us and says it’s all over, hope reminds us that we are still anchored to the rock.
Unseen Strength in the Storm
When people face trials on the sea of life, many start strong and anchor themselves, but some turn loose from God. They feel the turbulence and ask, “Where is God in this? Nothing is happening!” They don’t realize the anchor has an unseen grip. Below the surface, it is keeping them safe.
It is only when the anchor is not seen that it is doing something. We may think we’re fine because we have an anchor. But if it’s in the boat, it’s not doing us any good! It has to be cast into the water. Although we can’t see it, we trust it to work. That is faith!
Faith and hope work together. “Now faith is a well-grounded assurance of that for which we hope, and a conviction of the reality of the things which we do not see” (Heb. 11:1 WEYMOUTH). Keeping our souls anchored will keep us strong. Anchors won’t keep us from having trouble, but we can “ride out the storm” without losing ground.
Hebrews 4:14 (NIV)
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
When the world appears “awash” around us, it’s not the time to abandon ship! Instead, we must hold on tightly to Jesus. God is with us and promised to never leave us, forsake us, or fail us (Heb. 13:5). He is working, even if we can’t see it.
Secure the Anchor
We may need to check the anchor and make sure that the rope is tight! Are we doing what God said to do? For example, the Bible says, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” (Heb. 10:25). Are we together at church? If not, there’s some slack in the line. Are we tithing? More slack! Are we reading the Bible? Praying? The rope gets a little slacker. Pretty soon, we are completely loose of the anchor.
If that happens, rush back quickly! Grab hold and dig in tightly because the enemy has come to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). The best way he can destroy someone is to get them to turn loose of their anchor.
The Anchor Will Hold
Romans 15:4 (NLT)
4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
When we struggle, our anchor preserves us until the answer comes. Wait patiently for the Word of God to work! We might want it now, but faith is the evidence of things not seen.
Hope reminds us that we are still anchored. Don’t pull up the anchor to see if it’s working! If the rope is tight, it’s evidence that the anchor is holding. We are still hooked to the Rock of our salvation, and He will bring us through.
Why Do You Need an Anchor?
1) To keep your life from being shipwrecked. Hope in Christ protects you in the same way an anchor keeps a boat safe. It will not keep it from rocking with the waves, but it holds it in the midst of the tempest. Likewise, the anchor of your soul will not stop the storm but will keep you strong and secure in the midst of tribulation.
2) To keep you from drifting. Boats without an anchor drift into disaster or become grounded on reefs and rocks. It can seem more comfortable just to go with the flow . . . until you hear the bottom of the boat being ripped apart! Comfort and pleasure are only good for a season if you are not hooked into the anchor of Jesus.
3) To preserve your progress. Sand might not hold a boat, and the anchor can drag. But when an anchor is cast into good ground, it digs in. The heavier the pull, the more the anchor digs deep and holds! Temptations and trials can cause you to dig even deeper into God and keep you from losing what headway you have already made.
4) To keep you constant. If you throw out the anchor but don’t secure the line, it won’t do you any good. Not obeying God’s Word is like turning loose of the rope. You stay on track if you stay connected! Even when life hurts and dreams seem obliterated, the anchor still holds you firm and tells you that the dream is still there.
Author
Kenneth W. Hagin
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One Comment on “Anchor of Hope”
Praise God.
For the Hope we have In Christ Jesus.
The Song writer says, My Hope is built on nothing else, than Jesus blood and righteousness….
Praise God.