These are not just unprecedented times…they seem to be unrelenting. Our enemy is working overtime to make Christians feel “…tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming” (Ephesians 4:14).
And it’s not just “out there” in the politico-nasty Twitterverse. It’s repeatedly hitting close to home. Many of my favorite people are being beaten and battered by storms of intense troubles. The waves seem to be getting higher and the winds seem to be getting stronger. We need an anchor, and quick.
Hebrews 6:9 has one. “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”
What anchor? What hope? If you read in context, this Hope Anchor consists of the promises of God. His very great and precious promises (2 Peter 1:4)
So let’s take a minute and anchor our souls because things don’t seem to be calming down anytime soon. To which of the following promises do you need to anchor today?
Jesus promises you LIFE. Is the virus causing you fear as you honestly acknowledge your mortality for the first time? Remember: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life…” (John 3:36). The whole point of salvation in Christ is to have a way past sin and the grave. Eternal life at home with Him is already underway for you! You no longer need to fear the grave.
Jesus promises you ACCEPTANCE. As we see how divided our country is and as we see how polarized our friends’ responses have been, are you afraid of rejection or not being really loved for your true self? Remember: “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:37). He knows you. He isn’t surprised by you. He will never ever reject you.
Jesus promises you REST. Do you feel like you can’t go on because your sin and your circumstances have made you exhausted? Remember:“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Go to Him and stay there. There’s no task list or report card or deadline with Him. Just a gentle and lowly friend who cares.
Jesus promises you TROUBLE. Do you feel that somehow God is personally out to get you for letting these things happen? Remember: “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). Okay so this last one’s a zinger. Nevertheless, it is good to remember He didn’t promise perpetual sunny skies and smooth sailing. He is honest. He warned us ahead of time. Trouble is part of the package in this broken world. But for a Christian, we always have the assurance that God uses every single trouble to not to scar us but to shape us.
So I pray for you today that one of those promises from Jesus will anchor your soul in the midst of the storms of life. Storms that may outlast the derecho clean-up, may outlast the election, may even, God forbid, outlast 2020.
But the faithfulness of God’s love for you will outlast it all. And that’s a promise.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
Hopefully,
