It’s Time To Drop Anchor!

Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. Acts 27:14-15 NIV

We all have moments when the storms of life sweep in and we struggle to make headway because the circumstances are just too difficult to plow through! As Luke describes the situation Paul and his friends faced, he uses phrases like, “the winds were against us” (verse 4), “the wind did not allow us to hold our course” (verse 7), “we moved along with difficulty” (verse 8), and “much time had been lost” (verse 9). How often have you lost valuable time battling a storm, with great difficulty, only to find it knocking you completely off course?

Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. Acts 27:17b NIV

Sometimes fear takes over and we find that we just give way to it and allow our circumstances to drive us along, farther and farther from where we want to be! That’s a scary and sometimes very dark place to be! Luke says in verse 18, “We took such a violent battering from the storm!” Can you relate?

When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. Acts 27:20 NIV

On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea. Acts 27:27a NIV

Using this map, look how far they were driven off course! They started in Fair Havens, intending to go to Phoenix, but the storm drove them across the sea all the way to Malta!

Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. Acts 27:29 NIV

There comes a time when we need to say, “Enough is enough,” when we drop anchors and refuse to continue being driven off course! If we want to serve God and live in faith, we simply cannot allow our circumstances to determine the direction of our lives. We must dig our heel in and stand firm in our faith, trusting God to see us through the storm and leaving the outcome in His hands!

Esther reached that point, when she realized Mordecai was right, so she resolved to fast and pray, then approached the king with the mentality, “If I perish, I perish.” Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego dropped anchors when they declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand, but even if he doesn’t, we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up!” Job resolved to stay on course when he refused to curse God and instead declared, “Though He slay me, yet will I serve Him!”

If you’re navigating through a storm today don’t let it knock you off course! Don’t allow anything to drive you away from God; resolve, right now, that every difficult circumstance will cause you to draw nearer to Him. If you feel like you’ve lost control and circumstances are already driving you along then it’s time to drop all four anchors! Don’t risk complete shipwreck of your life! Determine today to do whatever it takes to stand firm in your faith! Pray and fast! Dig into God’s word! Seek God with all your heart and you will find, in the midst of the storm, God will fill your heart with peace and assurance. You will no longer be driven along; you will be anchored in Him!