Anchored

What power can steady that fluttering, wayward, agitated thing: a human heart?

The way to keep light articles fixed on deck amidst rolling seas and howling winds is to lash them to something fixed. And the way to steady the heart is to bind it to God.

--Alexander McLaren

These are days of rolling seas and howling winds. Heart is restless, weary, tossed by waves of emotions, gusts of fears, and tempests of questions and uncertainties. It saps strength, dulls the mind, wicks away vitality.


How to steady a turbulent heart? Lash it to something fixed. And the only thing, the only One, who is fixed and unchanging is the Father of lights, with whom there is no shadow of turning. Fierce storms howl and ebb, seasons come and go, heart knows joy and then pain... nothing in this life is steadfast or constant. But He, our Solid Rock, is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is always good... always loving toward His children... always wise... always compassionate.

As the storm rages, winds howling evil doubts and questions, the voice of the Rock can be heard over the roiling din:

"Peace, be still."

Yes, Father. Lash me to the Rock; anchor my quavering heart. Even if the storm rages on, the heart can know peace when it is anchored to the Stronghold, for there it cannot be moved or shaken.

Troubles almost 'whelm the soul; griefs like billows o'er me roll;

Tempters seek to lure astray; storms obscure the light of day:

But in Christ I can be bold; I've an anchor that shall hold.

And it holds, my anchor holds;

Blow your wildest, then, O gale, on my bark so small and frail:

By His grace I shall not fail,

For my anchor holds... my anchor holds.

--W. C. Martin