A Storm Survivor Handbook (Part 3)
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…” Hebrews 6:19
In Acts 27, Paul and a crew of sailors found themselves in the middle of the sea in a terrible storm. Verse 29 says they dropped four anchors. There are four things that will sustain you through a storm of life. Number one is the anchor of purpose. The wind was blowing and tossing the boat around, but Paul said, “We have purpose, and God will get us through this.” Your purpose does not change in the storm. Your purpose predates your conception. God has a purpose for you being here, and no storm can kill your purpose.
A church home is the second anchor you need in a storm of life. A lot of people run from church when they have troubles because they are embarrassed about what people think. They are ashamed if their marriage is in shambles or they are dealing with an addiction. Instead of coming to church, throwing their anchor down, and asking for help, they often isolate themselves. This is the enemy’s plan. But Jesus made it clear that “The well do not need a physician.” Jesus came for the sick. The church is not just a place to have holy huddles, it is a hospital for the hurting and a safe haven for those who are in need of help. If you are in a storm, anchor into your church.
The third anchor that you need to drop in a difficult time is the anchor of courage. Courage is not fearlessness. Courage is being afraid and doing it anyhow. Courage is finishing the race even if you’re in last place. There was an Olympic runner who competed many years ago from Tanzania who finished in last place. He had fallen down and cut his leg and was hours behind every other runner. When he was interviewed, he was asked why he didn’t just give up. He replied, “My nation did not send me over here to give up. They sent me over here to run the race, and I finished it.” Courage is the determination to keep going even when the odds aren’t in your favor. Courage is refusing to let any diagnosis or news steal your joy. Courage is what keeps you going during the hard times.
The last anchor you need to drop during trying times is focus. Don’t lose sight of the storm. Don’t lose focus on where you are going. Don’t let the winds and rain of hardship cloud your vision. The reason most people do not reach the dream or goal that God has given them is not because of a lack of talent, education, experience, or resources. It is because of a lack of focus. It is the enemy’s goal to distract and divert you from God’s plans. Losers focus on what they are going through. But champions focus on what they are going to do. The Bible says that it was “for the joy that was set before Him, that He endured the cross.” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus was focusing on where He was going instead of what He was going through. That’s how you overcome a storm. So grab onto a plank and ride out the storm. Everything’s going to be alright.
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