People often describe life as an ocean, deep and mysterious, and we are the vessels. Vessels come in small and big, from fishing boats, cargo vessels to warships. Each has its own capacity, purpose, timing to set sail and duration to sail. Once offshore, the waters will carry each, however and wherever it steers, to its destination. Along the way, there will be times we need to anchor our boats soon after we depart from the dock. It can be just to restock, refuel, to capture a memorable sight of the horizon in the middle of no where or to bravely fight waves and storms. The anchor, a heavy device that is attached to a boat or ship by a rope or chain and is thrown into the water to hold the boat or ship in place, grabs us tight to where we are supposed to be, to do what we need to do at the various situations and circumstances. Life’s toughest storms prove the strength of our anchor.

What do we hold on to in life to get us going? Do we sometimes feel like a small boat drifting in big calm sea, waiting for what is next or a ship bravely fighting storms and waves in the deep and mysterious ocean? Can we just let the winds and waves bring us to shore as it comes? I reckon, like it or not, most of us consciously or subconsciously allow ourselves to be carried along by the winds and waves of life. We drift and hope for the best outcome or we try our very best to steer out of trouble, to avoid shipwrecks.

Ephesians 2:12 (ESV) says “remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”

Everyone lives in hope of something, a more than desirable outcome. It is one thing to hope with no idea of how or where or who we are entrusting our dreams to and when it happens, we call it “luck”, it is another thing to hope with an assurance of things hoped for, with conviction of things not seen. This, we call it faith (Hebrews 11:1).

We set off in life, for life, not knowing what is ahead. This uncertainty puts us in undesirable places taking each step in life, making small and big decisions in fear. However, when we live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7), this faith gives us a hope that brings us onshore however it takes. It is not just about a smooth sailing trip but a journey that we can keep our eyes above the waves and leads us to eternity where grace abounds. It is not just about staying alive but a life that is purposeful for the glory of God and His Kingdom. The waves and storms will come uninvited but this anchor of hope keeps us from drifting and shipwreaks, to eventually bring us to our final destination to meet our Lord, face to face.

“Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods.”~CS Lewis, Mere Christianity.

May this anchor of hope gives strength and assurance to find rest in our Heavenly Father’s embrace upon the waters of great unknown where feet may fail and fear surrounds. May the Spirit lead where trust is without borders that we may walk upon the waters, wherever the call may be.
Take us deeper than our feet could ever wander and our faith will be made stronger in the presence of our Savior.

Some phrases adopted from song, Oceans (where feet may fail) by Hillsong.