Matthew 8:27 (New International Version)
The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this?
Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
It was 1992. A father had died, health problems were
rampant, and he was burned out after 19 years pastoring. His church was
entering the first stages of a split.
Summer arrived and his wife experienced her third
miscarriage. He wept as he held the 14 week fetus in his hand. During a six
month sabbatical, he and his wife grieved and prayed. And he began to play the
piano again.
Then it came-a song in the pain. Lawrence Chewning
entitled it, "The Anchor Holds." Later his friend Ray Boltz contacted
him requesting permission to record it. Ray reworked the lyrics, released it in
1994, and response was overwhelming.
The chorus tells the story: The anchor holds though the
ship is battered. The anchor holds though the sails are torn. I have fallen on
my knees as I faced the raging seas. The anchor holds in spite of the storm.
Anchors are important; so is their weight and what they
anchor to. Anchoring to a dock allows passengers to exit without falling into
the water. Heavy anchors keep fishing vessels stationary long enough to catch
fish.
I've faced more storms than I care to recount, but my
anchor of faith holds. God rides the storms with us as Jesus did with the
disciples.
Storms of change, tragedy, disillusionment, depression,
financial meltdown, loss, and turmoil come, but I'm at peace-the anchor holds.
It's secured to an immovable Rock who knows all, controls all, sees all and
loves me unconditionally.
My ship may bruise and the winds tear the sails. It may
even rub up against a few rocks, but I'll never be blown beyond God's perimeter
or sink beneath his reach. Nor will you.
When storms test your anchor, remember it's anchored to
an all-powerful unchangeable God.
Dear Lord we thank You for the storms of life that come
our way as they prove to show how secure we are before we are anchored to You
by our faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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