We have an anchor of hope that keeps us solid when life zigzags, pushes, and pulls us off course. Hope keeps us from wandering, wobbling, and capsizing.
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Expectations were high for our annual fishing weekend.
My husband had meticulously prepared for every type of weather or circumstance. We had an abundance of poles, lures, and bait. He had consulted with myriad maps and those who know these things as to the best techniques and spots to anchor.
The air was moist and warm as we started the motor and shoved away from the dock. We motored through the darkness and the boats already anchored toward the perfect spot.
Fishing reports were good for steelhead trout and king salmon, so our hopes were high for a successful day filled with shouts of “bobber down!”
By 9:30, we hadn’t caught anything—yet; by noon, we hadn’t caught anything; by 2:00, we hadn’t caught anything; by evening, we gave up hope of catching anything.
The wind picked up, and it looked like we had drifted from our original spot. When we noticed the GPS screen, it showed we had zigged and zagged all over the place.
Our anchor had not held us in place.
On the way home, I kept thinking, “Your hope is the anchor of your soul.”
The thought kept going over and over in my mind, as I remembered the zig-zag lines on the GPS screen. Knowing the thought was a Scripture from Hebrews, I began pondering the meaning of it all.
“Your hope is the anchor of your soul.”
That was a week ago.
Since then, I have felt the winds of despair pound my mind.
Nothing has changed in my life for the worst; everything is the same as two weeks ago, when life was hopeful.
Yet, different areas of my life seemed hopeless.
This morning my daughter sent me a text from work with some good news, and in my mind, I saw the good, but I felt despair.
As we texted back and forth, I found myself saying, “I just feel like there is no hope of the situation changing.”
When the text whoosh-sound hit my ears, I knew my hope had been assaulted again by another strong wind.
Quickly, I apologized to her and tried to regain my hope.
My hope is not a changed situation, a paycheck, my family, a new job, a person, or any other circumstance.
No matter what my situation is today or tomorrow, my anchor of hope is Jesus.
He has promised to work all situations out for my ultimate good.
My hope is in His love for me and promise to never leave me nor forsake me. My hope is in His eternal covenant of love and provision.
Christ Jesus is my hope that is sure, steadfast, unmovable!
This very hope is the anchor that keeps my soul (my mind, will, and emotions) from wandering, wobbling, and capsizing on myself and other people.
I should have known that the Lord was trying to warn me my hope would be tested.
The enemy was trying to sink my hope, trying to make me give up on all the promises God has made to me personally, and the promises His Word declares are for me and my family.
Things were so bad for David that he said, “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (Ps 27:13).
The goodness of the Lord brings deliverance, healing, and provision for every need in our lives. We have a living hope that is sure and steadfast.
The key to receiving the promises depends on our patience and endurance.
Every word of God will be tested.
We must remain steadfast and unmovable in our trust in God’s words to us.
We must keep our eyes set on things above, not the hope-draining circumstance.
Through patience and endurance in hope we will receive God’s promises.
After we loaded up our boat and headed home, my husband got a text from relatives who were next to us—they caught five nice-sized fish after we left.
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).
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Related Posts:
- Prayers for Hope and Strength with Bible Verses
- Keep Your Focus on Jesus to Overcome Hurt & Disappointment
- 4 Ways to Find Hope in Hard Times Like David in the Old Testament
- Another article about one of our fishing trips, Live the Regret-Free Life.
