Our engine was dead. Our anchor was giving us trouble. The booming thunder clouds made the darkness of night even darker. We were trapped inside our sailboat by the driving rains that angrily beat our boat and became one with the raging sea tossing us back and forth.
Earlier in the evening we anchored in a small, isolated cove and closed all the windows as the storm began. Sunset was several hours behind us by the time my dad noticed we were further from shore than we should be.
Our anchor was not holding in the storm.
Sailing is a favorite pastime for my family. But in this moment, we realized we were facing a serious challenge. We sat there with the wind howling outside, making all the windows shudder. We considered our options. Should we trust in our electronic navigation equipment to blindly guide us through the night and reset our anchor? Should we head for open water and sail in circles until dawn?
We decided to try anchoring again. Tensions were high. Over the roar of the storm, my brother-in-law shouted directions from my father at the navigation panel to my husband on the anchor.
We held our breath as the anchor dropped. It sunk quickly, settling deep into the sand beneath the foaming waves and gripped the bottom of the ocean floor!
In the morning, our weary hearts were cheered by a beautiful sunrise and a radio call from someone coming to help us fix our boat.
Looking back on this adventurous night, I contemplate how it can be compared to any storm of life. Incapable of saving ourselves, we must trust in what we cannot see to bring us safely through the storm.
Isaiah 26:3-4 says, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”
An everlasting rock. Rocks can endure weather and time without changing, they are strong and secure. To be everlasting means that regardless of how much time may pass, He will never change. His strength will never diminish.
In the same way that we were forced to walk by faith and drop our anchor, God often asks us to follow Him through the storm, rather than plucking us out of it.
The storms we face can vary widely – disability, unemployment, and grief among many other things. But in every trial, we know for certain that the Captain of our life will hold us fast and keep us safe. While we cannot see God, we can see evidence of His faithfulness and goodness everywhere we look.
Regardless of how the wind wails and how impossible the circumstances may seem, we serve a God who is able and worthy of our trust. While we may not see past the storm, God does, and He is with us. He is faithful to guide us into safety.
Jesus, we know that as we face the storms of life we can be at peace, trusting you to strengthen us and bring us safely home. It is so easy to be distracted by the wind and the waves; please help us not to fear, but to keep our eyes on you. Thank you for never leaving us, even in the darkest storm. We trust you, and we rejoice in your everlasting peace.
Ali Howard is a Baylor University graduate who has engaged in full-time, nonprofit work since 2011. She joined the Joni and Friends team in January 2015, and serves as the Senior Coordinator of Volunteer Services. She also acts as the content editor for the Irresistible Church blog and books.
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