Loose Your Grip: Take 2

 

I wrote last week about a storm the Apostle Paul weathered in the book of Acts, chapter 27.  There was so much to learn in that story…I wrote my guts out over it for three days.  But then, I had to go in and trim and cut so that I would have your attention!  This is a one page blog, not a chapter in a book, I get it.

 

As I read and studied that passage, I kept asking the question “what is the most important point of this story”.  I couldn’t come up with just one point.

 

As for me, I keep pondering those men cutting those anchors and leaving them in the sea.

 

 

I love movies that take place on the ocean.  There’s something about the power of water that intrigues me.  Big wooden ships that creak and sway, flags flying in the wind, waves higher than the vessel itself.  Men shouting over the noise of the ocean and wind.  Put that stuff on the big screen and hand me a Kit Kat and I’ll buy a ticket!

 

This week at church, our Pastor said to fill in this blank, “if mama ain’t _________, ain’t nobody happy”.

 

“Happy”?  No.

 

Secure.

 

Let that sink in.  I think it’s true.  I’m speaking from experience.

 

We all like to feel secure, especially women.  But, imagine being on a giant ship with nearly 250 other passengers, battling wind, rain and waves, when everyone is hungry and hopeless and the decision is made…cut the anchors.  Cut.  The.  Anchors.

 

SAY WHAT?

 

This passage in the Bible is a true story and I believe we can learn something here.

 

Where does our hope lie?  In whom or what do we trust?

 

It’s nice to see our income add up and be enough to equal our outgo, but it usually doesn’t work that way.

 

It’s nice to go to our jobs and know without a doubt that we’ll work there until we retire, but it doesn’t always work that way.

 

It’s nice to build a life with someone and count on them to stay with you until death comes, but it doesn’t always work that way.

 

It’s nice to have a plan for a particular college education with the perfect job to follow, but it doesn’t always work that way.

 

That money, those jobs, those people, that college, those anchors…we can touch and see those.

 

In reality, they’re not reliable.

 

They’re temporary.

 

They bring a false sense of security.

 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;”

Proverbs 3:5

 

If my finances crash do I trust Him with my needs?

If my job ends, do I trust Him with my retirement years?

If my spouse walks, do I trust Him to make it right and stick with me?

If my plans take a turn out of my control, do I trust that it was no surprise to Him?

If the anchors I’ve tethered myself to are cut loose, will I live in a state of constant suspense like the men on that ship had been in, or will I relax, lie on my back and allow the Holy Spirit to keep me afloat?  Will I surrender to what He is allowing to take place in my life instead of my own plans?

 

The Holy Spirit is invisible.  He’s like the wind.  You know He’s there and you can see the effects of his presence, but He can’t be seen with our eyes.

” Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

Hebrews 11:1

 

If we call ourselves “Christians”, “believers”, “born again”…whatever term you choose, are we living a life that expresses our complete dependence on Him?  No matter what?

 

It’s a choice and it takes knowing God to begin leaning into Him.  That’s why spending time in the Bible is important.  As we grow closer to Him and learn his character, we will trust more quickly…with our whole heart…with our actions.

 

Security.  Trust.  Faith.  The only anchor that these can be tied to from now through eternity is unseen.

 

When our tangible anchors are cut, whether by our own doing or not, there is no need to fret.  For those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ, there is an anchor which will never cut us lose.  An anchor which is firm and secure.  An anchor which transcends our  limitations here on earth.

 

 

 

 

If you are eternally tied to this anchor, live a life filled with hope and assurance in the unseen.

 

If you are not tied to this anchor, ask someone about Him who is.

 

Blessings,

Kellie