Wind and water flew in his eyes as he stepped out on the upper deck. Was it possible to breath water? Because that was the option before him as rain and sea water pelted him from all directions.

It was dark and he could barely see anything, let alone hear a shout above the roar of the storm. He had just a few moments to lower his anchor into the water – securing the rolling ship in the ocean floor before the imminent wave that continued to build hit them.

Definition of an Anchor: (as told by Google)

“A heavy object attached to a rope or chain and used to moor a vessel to the sea bottom, typically one having a metal shank with a ring at one end for the rope and a pair of curved and/or barbed flukes at the other.”

And my personal favorite definition:

“A person or thing that provides stability or confidence in an otherwise uncertain situation.”

Anchors generally are pretty important. They are vital to a ship’s survival in a storm. The anchor keeps the ship firmly in place despite how many waves hit it and how hard the wind blows.

It keeps the ship from drifting off course and getting lost, turning over and sinking, or hitting jagged rocks that would destroy it.

During a storm is not the time to realize you don’t have an anchor or that its in bad shape. By then, its too late.

Its during the calm waters that you have the chance to make sure your anchor is securely fastened, in good repair, or just even there at all.

The same is true in our lives.

Without a sturdy anchor (or anchor at all) to tether us and provide stability during the storms we face in life, we will break under the pressure.

So what makes a good anchor? Back to our ship analogy, strong anchors are made with metal connected by a solid metal chain that is securely fastened to the ship. The anchor is heavy with curved tips at the bottom so that it will sink quickly to the ocean floor in the depths below and then dig in and hook into the floor once it gets there.

When you experience hard times that make you feel like you are going to break or bend under all the pressure, what keeps you grounded? What is the thing or person you lean on for strength to keep you going?

“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31

News flash: Every source of comfort and strength you rely on will eventually fail if its not God.

Your parent, spouse, significant other, TV show, shopping spree, bank account, drug, social media, work…will all fall short.

The things I turned to were: significant others, checking out with TV and movies, and my parents.

And you know what? They never actually made me feel better.

People are only human – no matter how awesome or put together they are, at some point, they will disappoint you.

Things are just that – things. TV, movies, video games, new clothes and gadgets – they will never fill that thing inside us that is crying out for relief.

You know what I am talking about.

That deep longing to have some relief from the pain you feel. That deep longing to just feel loved, truly loved for you and you don’t have to do anything for it – someone to just accept you how you are and that is enough. That deep desire to truly feel safe. Your deep longing to be utterly and truly satisfied in your life and circumstances.

You think, “Maybe this person will finally work out.” or “If I just get ________ then I’ll be happy.”

It doesn’t work.

We were all made by God, for God. We are literally wired to need God. Everything else is just going to simply fall short because they are created things. Only the creator can fill that void in us that can never seem to be filled.

Only Jesus can truly satisfy us. Only God can wholly and truly fill our  needs. Needs to be loved, safe, and fulfilled.

Instead of having a cigarette when you have a bad day, instead of checking out and drowning yourself in movies and TV shows to not think, instead of going shopping, or going on vacation to get your “fix” in – try asking Jesus to fill you up.

You literally have nothing to lose – except all the ways that fall short once you finally experience what it feels like to be truly satisfied and fulfilled.

I’ve been a Christian my whole life and it wasn’t until 5 or 6 years ago did this start becoming a reality – I had to choose Jesus. I had to choose to make him first and set aside everything else I was turning to to get my needs met. Just believing in Jesus and that he exists is not going to cut it. Its about choosing him day in and day out. Its about letting him lead and guide you. Its about letting God refine you and make you a better person. Its about falling in love with the best person you could ever know.

When I got back from a mission trip this summer I felt like something big was on the horizon – something new. God then told me he wanted me to move to Arizona and have a different job. I said ok, because where God is I want to be too. He gave me several promises that I could hold onto during this process: 1. I would be moving to Arizona, 2. Where I got a job would be a sign, and 3. He would be with me. This process turned into a very hard waiting period for me. I was at a job that I did not thrive in, under a difficult boss, and doing things I was not passionate about. While I was waiting for God to come through for me I started noticing what looked like a lot of loose ends being tied up. I had several concerns – 1. I couldn’t drive my car across state because it would overheat, 2. Where would I live?, and 3. Would I get a job that was finally fulfilling?

Right after this I got in a car accident – it wasn’t major, but was enough to tweak my back and make it hurt – to top it off, it took a month for them to sort out that the guy didn’t have insurance. Then my car starts to overheat to where I can no longer drive it. I was literally sitting on the side of the road bawling my eyes out wondering how on earth I was going to take care of everything. Then that’s when God started showing up. AAA covered up to 7 miles for my car to be towed and the tow truck said it was exactly 7 miles to my mechanic. That same day I got a check from the insurance company from the accident a month prior that pretty much covered the entire amount of my car being fixed. I mean, I didn’t even have time to worry about the money! Did I mention I was broke by the way? Then I started going to the Chiropractor because of that accident. My Chiropractor asked me my medical history and it came out that I had been having weekly migraines since I was 18. She said, “Ya that was me too, then I got this one adjustment and they went away completely!” Say what? When do we start?! I had literally been praying for healing for the past 6 years straight. I had to pay out of pocket though and felt like God told me to go ahead and do it, that it would be alright. Turns out that I got Med Pay from my car insurance for the accident that wasn’t my fault which paid for all my health costs and didn’t make my rate go up. Are you kidding me God?! Then I went a month without anything happening except internal refinement waiting for promises from God which I had no earthly proof were real. I struggled with thoughts like, “Did I hear him wrong? Am I crazy? Did he really say to move?”

A job that I thought I was going to get in Arizona fell through and I was devastated . That day I ended up applying for another one I had heard through a friend. Wouldn’t you know that it was a 2 week turnaround time and they hired me after 2 interviews. This job turned out to be even better than the other one and fit perfectly in with my passions and giftings. To top it off God answered my prayers to be part of a company that wanted me, that were doing things that made a difference – and went above and beyond my expectations. God told me, “expect an upgrade in every area.” He has not let me down in that regard. Everything God told me came true. Oh and my car? Never even a lick of overheating. The waiting and not knowing was hard and painful – but it was exactly what I needed. God knows what he is doing and will take you on an adventure of a lifetime and do more than you could ever ask or imagine. That’s what he does for the ones he loves.

I don’t care where you are at in your life, there is always more to be had of God. Ask him to show up, you won’t be disappointed.

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” – Ephesians 3:16-19

I’d like to challenge you to do one thing today – ask Jesus, “Show me how real you are.” If you want to go a step further challenge God to show up in your life in a way only he could.

Be prepared, he likes to answer prayers.

Because the sailor knew where his anchor was and had personally made sure it was strong and secure, the ship made it through the storm because the anchor sank true and held fast because it was reliable and did not break under the pressure.