The Anchor in the Storm

All of us have experienced storms in our lives.  We expect them.  It is just a fact of life.  Jesus even warned we would have them: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33b)

It is no wonder that many of the most memorable stories in the Bible involve storms.  There is the flood, of course.  Peter walking on water.  Paul’s shipwreck. 

One of my favorites is when a sudden storm arises as Jesus was in a boat with the disciples.  As the disciples are running around in a panic, screaming, “Lord, save us!”  What is Jesus doing?  Sleeping! 

Does it seem that Jesus is doing nothing to calm your storm despite you calling out “Lord, save me!”?  Maybe it is because he is sleeping, perfectly at peace, and maybe he wants you to do the same.  When Jesus awoke he chastised the disciples for having little faith.  Perhaps if they had had more faith they too could have slept calmly as the storm raged around them.  (Matt 8:23-27)

Often times when we are in the midst of a storm we just pray for it to pass.  Perhaps though there is something that the lord wants to teach us, a way he would like to grow our faith, which he cannot do with calm skies. Jesus can calm the storm or he can calm the storm in us so that we can rest in his loving arms despite what may be happening around us.  Which is the greater miracle? 

In the storms of life what we need is an anchor to hold us fast in the buffeting seas. That anchor is Jesus Christ.  If you hold fast to Him there is no storm that you cannot weather.  More than weather it—you can sleep!  

¹⁹ We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, ²⁰ where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.

Hebrew 6:19-20