My Anchor Holds

I know that God is faithful.
He is loving. Gracious.
I know that He promises me peace.

And, there are still some days when swirling comes knocking and I open the door, invite her in, and offer her a place to hang out.

My swirling looks like this …
I wander around the house. Aimlessly. Up and down, room to room, opening and closing the fridge door, flipping through books, scrolling through my phone.

There is work to be done, but my mind doesn’t get focused. My thoughts feel like the little steel ball that flies around a pinball machine, hitting, bouncing, not sure where it will end up next.

I’m unsettled.

Putting together a new to-do list isn’t the answer. Neither is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
I need to address what’s going on in my mind and heart.
So, I stop my feet from moving, set my phone aside, and take a breath. I sit down and ask myself, “What am I thinking about? Where’s my focus right now?”

I know the answer to my questions right away.
I’m focusing on the problems. The situations I can’t fix. The tragedies that are unfathomable.
My heart is drowning in the hurts and sadness that real life is bringing for so many.

My swirling, fretting, and hand wringing tell me that I am untethered. Unanchored to anything stable and dependable.
I’m splashing around in the surging waves, thinking I can hold the breakers back and stop their pummeling by worrying about them.
I’m grasping for something in the storm to keep my head above water and all I can reach is seaweed. Not helpful.

Here’s what I’ve learned.
Thinking about and caring for the hurts around me is OK. My attention to them prompts me to do something. Donate the money. Show up and give my time. Share my talents. Bring the hotdish. Call the politicians. Send the cards Encourage hearts. Pray always.

But the worries and tragedies cannot be where I anchor my heart.

There is a God who is bigger than any situation. Stronger than any enemy. And he is unbreakable.
The only lifeline to a safe harbor, the only anchor for my soul, is God’s love and faithfulness.
When we are anchored to Him, the swirling stops.

You and I must keep ourselves anchored to our Faithful and Loving God.

Read these words and let the promises sink in:

“In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice…
He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.” (Psalm 18:6, 16)

“Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.” (Psalm 107)

“He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is secure, he will have no fear…” (Psalm 112:7-8.)

So.
Kick your swirling out the front door, wave good-bye, and shut the door behind her.
Decide where you can help. Show up. Stop fretting and do something about the tough and terrible situations you care about.
And most importantly, get your soul anchored to the One whose love is steadfast. Faithful. Trustworthy.

One of my favorite songs is “The Anchor Holds,” by Lawrence Chewning and Ray Boltz. Let the music and the words bring peace to your heart today.

The anchor holds
Though the ship is battered
The anchor holds
Though the sails are torn
I have fallen on my knees as I face the raging seas
The anchor holds in spite of the storm