I live near the Gulf of Mexico and have, on occasion, gone fishing. My friend’s boat, a small one, is great to get us to some prime spots, especially for the gorgeous and tasty speckled trout. Last time we fished we went to the spot where we’d caught them before and then, we tossed in the anchor. We knew what our goal was, we knew where to find the fish and we wanted to make sure we didn’t drift too far from that spot. The anchor hit bottom, and held, then we caught our limit.
Friends, right now, as much as anytime in the last 50 years, we need souls that are anchored in the right place, for the right reasons, seeking the right ends. The waves are wobbly and the winds blow in seemingly every direction. It’s uncertain what is ahead. It’s hard to discern truth from opinion, facts from deception or ignorance. We get mixed messages about everything from the top down and the bottom up, especially online.
In this seeming chaos and noise, we humans look for simplicity. We tend to settle into a tribe and a narrative whether it’s right or wrong because it helps us make sense of the day. It’s understandable. But it’s not healthy.
Check out these words from Paul in Hebrews chapter 6, verses 17-19:
“Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure”
We are promised and given an anchor of hope to drop into the tumultuous waters, in faith, and let sink until it hits the firm, secure bottom of God’s love for us.
Don’t toss your anchor carelessly into the void. We didn’t go fishing and just randomly pick a spot. We went for a place where we had been before, knowing there were fish.
Know why you need an anchor. Understand the perils of floating aimlessly in such a confusing time. Do not let your social media feed be your anchor. Nor your political party. Nor to your chosen political leader. Nor to your denomination. Nor to your race or your ideology or your career. Those anchors won’t ultimately hold.
Know what you’re looking for, even if you don’t see it exactly. We know, deep down, the kind of love and truth we are to seek.
With all this in view, toss the anchor of your life into the turbulent waters of the day without fear. With joy and passion. Toss it good and hard over the side of your boat. You can’t see the bottom, but it won’t sink far. It will come to rest in God’s grounding truth. In the incarnate, incredible, loving person of Jesus.
We have an anchor for our soul, firm and secure. Thanks be to God.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Joel
Joel Searby
