by Charles R. Swindoll
Read Acts 27:1-26
The anchor of stability holds firm when your navigation
system fails. It's easy to lose your bearings in the storm. You can't find your
way through the circumstances you face. Life rolls along fairly smoothly until
suddenly the seas grow rough. Unseen problems occur. They were not in the
forecast. In Luke's words, "All hope of our being saved" is abandoned.
Those are treacherous moments when we reach the point of
abandoning hope. At that difficult, gut-wrenching moment, God says, "Don't
be afraid, I have a plan."
People facing intense adversity find it difficult to focus
on anything other than the towering waves and stinging winds. Paul firmly
announces, "Be of good cheer . . . we've heard from the Lord that none
will be lost."
We find stability in storms through what God has said. Your
tendency will be to turn to another source for strength rather than the Word of
God. Don't go there! The only anchor of stability that will hold you firm, no
matter how intense the gale-force winds, is God's written Word.
All this reminds me of a statement made by one of the
ancient Jewish prophets, which supports the reliability of God and His Word.
The following words flow from the seasoned hand of Isaiah: "But now, thus
says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, 'Do not
fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When
you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they
will not overflow you'" (Isaiah 43:1-2).
What encouraging words! "Do not fear, I have called you
by name." What a great thought!
Isaiah was not writing of literal waters or actual rivers.
His figure of speech emphasized encroaching circumstances that threatened the
stability of one's faith. When the waters rise to dangerous depths, when
difficulties reach maximum proportion, when your ship seems to be
disintegrating board by board and starting to sink by life's inevitable storms,
God is faithful. He promises, "I will be with you." He is your
anchor.
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