Anchors of Life

Anchors have many meanings; perhaps the most common meaning is that of a heavy object attached by a cable to a boat and cast overboard to hold the vessel stable and prevent drifting.  While on the boat, it is important to secure the anchor; however, when thrown overboard, it becomes the security.  Each of us needs an anchor; it may be our deep faith in God, our family or a close friend.  It provides great comfort to know it is there for dependence in the time of potential danger; it is also great comfort and gives confidence that we can make it in the most difficult storms of life. 

We have witnessed and perhaps personally affected by many storms of life in the past few months including tornados, fires, draught, floods, and all of us have been affected by the economic conditions in our nation.  One has stated, “Amidst the confusion of the times, the conflicts of conscience, and the turmoil of daily living, an abiding faith becomes an anchor to our lives.”1

The writer of Hebrews states, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”  We have a choice to make during the storms of life; we can drift aimlessly and allow the storm to determine our destiny or we can throw out the anchor and then rest in hope and confidence until the storm subsides.   One must also be sensitive to the situations and know when lift the anchor and start the process of moving forward.  This may be entirely out of one’s comfort zone.  We must remember that “comfort zones” are not necessarily “growing zones.”    One writer described taking risks like this: “If you want to walk on water, you must get out of the boat.”2

There are times that the storms of life are so severe that we need to set anchor and there are times that we need to lift the anchor and move forward.  Anchors often become entrenched in the sand or rocks so securely that one must cut the rope and leave the anchor in order to moving toward one’s goal.  It may be less risky to depend on the anchor to hold us steady at all times; however, just floating aimlessly and restricted by the anchor will take us nowhere.          There is a song written that a few years ago entitled, “The Anchor Holds.”  The chorus of that song says:

“I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving: To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it, but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.”3

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.4

Therefore, I ask, “What is your most important anchor of your life?”  Christ is the firm and sure foundation that will hold one secure in the world of turmoil all around us.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.” NLT

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1Thomas S. Monson

2John Ortberg

3 Marjorie Holmes

4 Ray Boltz