My Anchor Holds

I remember, way back in 1998, when I placed my newborn daughter in her great-grandmother's arms she looked at her and said "I wonder what her life will bring". It was a somber moment from a woman who had seen what life does bring. At that time, it caused a brief sense of panic. I wanted to take my children and run. I didn't know where, but there had to be safety somewhere. Safety from the times of grief, and chaos, and consequences coming. Safety from all that life wishes to take from them including their very breath.

God reminds me daily that this is no place to live. That the fear of "what might happen" should not overshadow the "what is". He reaches out and wants to take all of these burdens I choose to carry, but some days I cling to them like anchors.

Whatever the past year has brought, whatever the next year will bring, God is there. Is. Not was, not will be. Is. He is behind us and before us fighting battles for us we haven't yet seen. He is present in this very second as you cry out, and He is present in the heartache coming in your future. He's already there.

Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid..."

Psalm 139

"God before us, God behind us,
God above us, God beneath us.
We on your path, O God.
You, O God on our way.
In the twistings of the road,
in the winding of the path,
be with us by day, be with us by night,
be with us by day and by night."
~John Philip Newell

The Weight of The Water

Islands in the middle of a river always amaze me. The water comes up and the water goes down and the big trees growing there still stand up and wave to me on the bank. They must have really deep roots, roots that reach their fingers down and grab ahold of the rocks. There are saplings out on that sandbar, too, and they look a bit mangled after the water rises, but they survive because they are surrounded by their more mature friends.

Sometimes the flood rushes right over you in this life. You're spitting water and clinging with all your might to anything you can hold on to. It feels like you're going to be swept downstream any minute. You might look around thinking that no one else seems swayed and wonder why you're the only one always fighting the current. The reality is that everyone has a deluge unique to them, and the choice is to wrap your arms around the Rock or be swept downstream. Call on the Lord, then tuck yourself in between some people who have been in your shoes before. Church, small group, fellowships of believers, a bestie who loves the Lord. That's where you'll find the extra support you need to survive the torrent. :D

Matthew 7:24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”