4 Anchors to Help Hold You Steady

Christmas Day is approaching. For some, at times it brings joy and excitement. For others it may bring pain and anxiety. But for most people around the world, trying to survive the day by day, this past Sunday I chose to share a message that hopefully can help to provide some balance for every day of the year. After all, serving here in the DR, there are many just trying to survive.

For this blog, we thought we’d simply share that message with you as well (please, don’t leave the blog yet, it’s summarized). It comes from one book and one chapter from the bible. Acts Chapter 27 (as always I encourage you to read it on your own, a quick read, it’s only 44 verses). To set the background- Paul is a prisoner on a voyage with 276 other souls. They’ve traveled from ship to ship, the winds are increasing and Paul speaks up to advise them.

"...saying, 'Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.' Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul." Acts 27:10-11

So they moved forward and so it began. Stronger winds, days with no sun or stars, days with no food and all hope that they would be saved was given up. But Paul speaks up again and it’s there that we can see four spiritual anchors that secured him before they literally dropped four physical anchors in praying that day would come.

"And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying...therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me." Acts 27: 22-25

So first Paul shares about the angel of God speaking to him. Second, he shares “to whom I belong”. Third, “whom I serve” and fourth, “I believe God”. And that’s it, the 4 spiritual anchors that help to hold our lives together when times are tough, for times when your hope of being saved starts to reach the point of giving up.

Don’t give up! Remember that as believers (1) you might not hear from angels but you can hear from God in His word, remember (2) who you belong to as a child of God, remember (3) who you serve and (4) BELIEVE IN HIM! No matter what you’re going through, no matter what you’re facing that’s difficult, God loves you and is here for you. Don’t stop seeking truth, understanding your true identity, serving and believing. The impact of one believer can be so great, as we see at the end of the chapter…

"...And so it was that they all escaped safely to land." Acts 27:44

We’re grateful for the impact that we are making together as one, with all of you!