The Anchor of our Soul

By Barry Johnson

Ships are safe in the harbor, but that’s not what they were made for. And so it is with the children of God. We have a calling to fulfill, but we will never get it done tied to the dock, in the harbor. Feeling like we are stuck in dry dock in our lives is also a deeply discouraging place to be. Yet, many sincere lovers of Jesus are stuck there. If that is how we are struggling, our Abba Father longs to take us securely by the hand and show us the way out of that dark, defeating place. That is why the Father encourages in these words that come from His heart of love for us:

“Please come and be with Me. I long for you to come. I long to be with you. I long to refresh your weariness so that when you turn and face your life again, the circumstances may still be the same. But everything will look different because you have experienced how understanding I am about what you are up against, and about how you are feeling. In this humble, simple intimacy with Me, I want to encourage you. I want to help you. I long to show you what I’m doing in My destiny for you that you are wondering if it will ever happen. For I am your Father who cares about you more than you could ever hope for. I am your very real Dad who loves you every second of your life, no matter what you are going through.”

The Father also never wants us to give up on His plan for us that He birthed in our heart a long time ago. That’s why I marvel at how hanging on to what Paul the Apostle said can renew our courage to not let any discouragement, loss, or heartache to successfully defeat us: “I don’t regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Jesus.” Philippians 3:12

The Father is also calling His people back to the solid foundation of His Word. He even promises us: “I send My Word into your life to heal you and to deliver you from your destruction. You can hold on to My Word with confidence. It is a strong and trustworthy anchor for your soul.”

This is one of those powerful “anchors for our soul that He wants us to hold on to so that we never give up on living for Him, no matter what happens: “I know the plans I have for you, for good and not destruction, to give you a future and a hope.” (Psalm 107:20, Hebrews 6:19, Jeremiah 29:11)

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