5 Days From Resilient Hope by Christine CaineSample

LET YOUR ANCHOR DO HIS WORK

One time, when Nick and I were boating in one of our favorite little crystal-clear lagoons in Santorini, Greece—the same place we went on our honeymoon—he asked me to drop the anchor. No problem. Next, my plan was to close my eyes, take a nap, and relax in the sun. Nick’s plan was to fish. Well, it wasn’t too long into my well-planned nap that I awoke to a biting-cold wind, choppy waves, and murky waters.

To my shock, we had drifted all the way out into the shipping lanes where giant cargo ships cruise by. To top it off, a storm was brewing in the distance and headed right for us. Nick was already stowing his gear when he asked me if I had dropped the anchor.

“Yes, of course.” I answered him.

“But did you set it?” he pressed further.

“Did I what? What are you talking about? You asked me to drop the anchor, and I did.”

“Chris, if you don’t ensure the anchor is attached to the ocean floor, then we aren’t really anchored.” It’s amazing the conversations you can get into with the people you love most at the worst possible moments, isn’t it?

For hours, Nick fought the waves and the wind and sometime, long after dark, we pulled into a slip at the marina. We made it back safe and sound, but what I learned that day was far more than just the proper way to anchor a boat. I learned even more about Jesus, our Savior whom the writer of Hebrews described as this hope we have as an anchor for our souls. It’s only when we are firmly attached to our anchor—Jesus—that He can go to work and do His job. It’s just as Paul described, “Hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees?”

Just like an anchor that is dug into the seabed far below the surface of the water, we can’t see our hope at work. But our hope—Jesus—does His best work when we simply trust Him.

Think about this in light of your life right now. Are you feeling tossed about? Do you feel like you’re drifting? Check your anchor. If we drop anchor and set it firmly in God, we might not know it’s working at first, especially when everything is calm. But when the winds kick up, and the waves start to build, we will know it’s doing what Jesus promised. If we keep our hope in Jesus, we can stay steady. Immovable. Firmly established. Ever enduring. Even in the strongest of currents and the worst of storms.

Heavenly Father, I drop anchor and set it in You once more. I trust You. I put my hope in You so I can stay steady, immovable, firmly established, ever enduring. In Jesus’ Name, amen.