An anchor
When we lived in Poland, we were working with a church that was going through a tough time. They had been planted the previous year and things just weren’t going as well as they could have.
But one thing I remember was a lesson the pastor there was learning for himself.
There is no reason to expect life to calm like the sea on a windless day. Each and every day seems to be subject to some sort of chaos. Whether it is outwith or within, life is a perpetual storm. We should expect this because we live between Genesis 3 and Revelation 22.
If that is the nature of life, what we need isn’t necessarily a break from the chaos1. What we need is a stronger ship. One that is reinforced and stable amidst the crashing waves. One that is anchored to a true source of safety.
As I have been slowly reading through Job, I am struck by his constant refrain, ’As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause…’ (Job 5:8). Throughout his complaints regarding his miserable comforters, is a desire to speak with God himself. To gain an answer, yes, but an answer from the only one who can give him one.
Life is chaotic right now. There is so much going on and my instinct is not to be like Job, but to try and control the situation. To get my head around things so that I can understand it all. But these situations are all out of my control. They are beyond my understanding.
And so I remember that I can only do what I can do. I cannot control the storm but I have some say in where I anchor my ship. Will I dig into my own worries and anxieties? Or will I seek the One who is sovereign over all?
Be still my soul the wind and waves will know
His voice who ruled while he was here below2
Not that I would turn it down. We could really use a holiday away for a bit…
I love the point about needing a stronger anchor. It seems to compliment the quote about of “a ship is safe in harbour but it’s made for the open seas.” Which I would say reflects our faith well too. We may have times in safe harbours but we’re made for the sea.