Hope is an anchor

It is so easy to lose hope when life attempts to take you out.

What would it take to feel secure, no matter what? How can hope be guaranteed? How can hope be an anchor?

My friend Christy and I were terrified when we were carried away by the current in Lake Huron.  As young, boy crazy on-the-prowl teenage girls, we thought we were stronger than that current.  We were warned by everyone (all of the wise adults on the boat) that we would NOT be ok if we weren’t tied to the boat that was anchored.  We untied the rope anyway…

At first, we were laughing as our tubes floated further and further away from the boat.  We even waved, mockingly, at the wise adults who looked panicked.  We honestly thought we were fine! The current picked up and we floated further away… faster.

Big, fast, speeding boats couldn’t see us beyond the waves.  The water suddenly felt freezing cold.  We weren’t able to steer our tubes away from the dangers with our hands or are feet.  We lost hope, as were up against the current that seemed to gain strength by the second.

Reality finally set in, and we freaked out, together, at the exact same time.  I think we might’ve even cried.

My step-dad and my uncles risked their lives to swim toward us, as fast as they could.  Somehow, they made it to us in time.  They managed to pull us to shore, against the current, safe.

The boat was anchored, and secure.

As I look back on that day, I see that our hope was anchored. We had hope when we were connected to the boat.  As soon as we loosened, untied, and released ourselves from the anchor, we lost all hope.

In a way, I see God as that anchor.

Every time I let go, when I am exhausted, too weak to fight the battle, I get caught in the strong current.

I lose hope.

As soon as I realize that I let go, and that life without God is too hard to fight, I am welcomed back in, lovingly.

There is a scripture verse that states this: “We who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.  This hope we have as an anchor of the soul.” (Hebrews 6:18-19).

So, to answer the question, “what would it take to feel secure no matter what?,” I believe it takes a strong connection to the only One who can provide that hope.

This life isn’t easy, and for me, it is impossible to walk through alone.  I’ve found hope in God.  He will always rescue me, and He has never let go. He is the anchor of my soul.