Steady and Sure

On Saturday I had the opportunity to get out on the Chesapeake Bay with my outdoorsman brothers from Cool Spring. We chartered a trip with Captain Ryan Rogers on the Midnight Sun out of Smith Point Marina near Reedville, in search of rockfish and bluefish. Having kept my eye on the marine forecast during the days leading up to the trip, I was aware that it was likely to be a bumpy day on the Bay, and I was concerned for those in our party who were going to be making their first trip out on big waters. Nevertheless, Capt Ryan assured us that it would be a good day and that the wind would be our friend in combating the day's heat and humidity. He was indeed correct - the wind helped to cool the air, and although it also served to stir up the Bay considerably, the precise placement of the anchor coupled with the design of the boat's hull provided a sure hold and solid foundation while we enjoyed some exciting drag pulling action on light tackle (read more about the day's catch here).

Hebrews 6:18b, 19a (NASB)
"...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, a hope both sure and steadfast..."


As the tide turned and headed out of the Bay against the day's southerly winds, the waves became larger and choppier and I was thankful for the solid foundation and sure anchor that the Midnight Sun provided. We would not have wanted to navigate or anchor in any smaller or narrower of a vessel under those conditions. In a similar way, scripture reminds us that such a foundation and anchor is available for each of our souls only in Jesus Christ. It is the hope that we place in Him that helps us hold steady and sure in the 'storms' that we each face. And just as our party was not personally aware of the seaworthiness of the Midnight Sun until we witnessed the vessel hold steady and solid against the stress and strain of those conditions, it is not until we are going through or have gone through life's storms, tests, or trials that we can truly appreciate how invaluable such a solid foundation and anchor in our Savior really is.

Be assured that storms, tests and trials are coming your way, if they are not already. And therefore, let me urge you to put your hope in the sure anchor and solid foundation that is offered to you through Jesus Christ. Do not be as the foolish builder described in Matthew 7, who built his house on a foundation other than the rock, and when the storms came, whose house fell, destroying it completely. As a well known prayer goes, "Even as a ship is proven to be seaworthy over its lifetime, may our faith be proven trustworthy as we hold onto You, the Anchor for our soul." - GE