We Have an Anchor

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life, When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?

When the strong tides lift and the cables strain, Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

Chorus
We have an anchor that keeps the soul, Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move, Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.

It is safely moored, ’twill the storm withstand, For ’tis well secured by the Savior’s hand;
And the cables, passed from His heart to mine, Can defy that blast, thro’ strength divine.

It will surely hold in the Straits of Fear—When the breakers have told that the reef is near;
Though the tempest rave and the wild winds blow, Not an angry wave shall our bark o’erflow.

It will firmly hold in the Floods of Death—When the waters cold chill our latest breath,
On the rising tide it can never fail, While our hopes abide within the Veil.

When our eyes behold through the gath’ring night The city of gold, our harbor bright,
We shall anchor fast by the heav’nly shore, With the storms all past forevermore.

This hymn, written in 1882, starts off by asking a question – “Will your anchor hold?”  It is an interesting question in that it assumes that all of us have an “anchor” of some kind.  For Christians, the author states confidently in the chorus that “we have an anchor,” and we all know that our anchor is God.  But for some Christians and for all unbelievers, they live like they have different anchors.  Their anchor might be money.  For others, family.  For many, it is our country or government that they rely on and trust in.  However, the truth is that none of those anchors will hold.  Fortunes can be lost quickly.  Just watch the stock market over the past 12 months.  Families can be broken apart by sin or by tragedy.  Godly “pillars” in a family will one day pass away, and a family whose “anchor” is that Godly individual will have difficulty.  Governments have risen and fallen over the history of man.  None of those earthly “anchors” are secure.  This hymn provides a beautiful mental picture of a sea, a ship, and an anchor that holds, and I hope you will be reminded by this hymn of who your “anchor” is. 

Couple of comments on the lyrics:

• “Tis well secured by the Savior’s hand” – When I read this line, I was reminded of John 10:28-29 which reads – “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”  What a double-guarantee!  We are secured in Jesus’ hands, and also secured by the Father’s hand.  I would consider that as “well-secured” as you can get.

• “Straits of Fear” – The definition of a “strait” is “a narrow passage of water connecting two large bodies of water.”  Have you noticed that when one is in a period of “fearfulness” that his/her focus narrows to that one area?  We can be living a live of faith, and then the fear of an illness, fear for a loved one, or financial worries or concerns, can cause us to lose faith, and cause us to forget the many times that God has protected and provided in our past.  We travel from large “bodies of water” (faith, protection and provision) through these “straits of fear” and the fear can be all-consuming.  The key is remembering during those times of fear that God will never put on you something that you can’t handle.  It’s His promise and He stands by it.

• “Floods of Death” –  Have you seen the devastation of floods on TV or in person?  Isn’t it interesting that there are so many things that are just swept away during a flood?  Houses, cars, and other personal valuables.  It is also interesting to notice the things that often remain.  Things that are “well-rooted” like old trees, or things that are “anchored” to something secure seem to hang on during those floods.  I hope that whether you are experiencing the loss of loved ones, or physical pain or emotional trials, that you have been reminded of that strong anchor you have in Christ.

As I have mentioned before in a previous “Hymn of the week”, I don’t know much about sailing or seafaring.  I’m intrigued by it, but am ignorant of all the “in’s and out’s” of sailing.  I do know, however, that most sailing vessels have some things in common, and one of those things is an anchor.  Couple of things interesting about an anchor:

• When the “anchor” is working, you can’t see it.  It is deep in the water, and you might be able to see the evidence of it working (ship is not moving), but you can’t actually see it working below.  You just have to trust that it is.

• You don’t know the strength of the “anchor” until it is tested during a storm.  An “anchor” that is never put in the water and tested by the storms gives one no confidence in the “anchor’s” ability to do it’s job.

• The deeper the seas one sails in, the bigger the boat that is required.  The bigger the boat, the stronger the anchor required. 

I hope you know who your “anchor” is today and that you can personalize this hymn and say with confidence “I have an anchor.”  Be also encouraged that if your anchor is Jesus, then you don’t have to worry about whether He is working or not when you don’t see Him working.  Be confident that He is, and that your anchor will hold, no matter the storms of life.