All of us will go through storms in life—those times when we feel beaten and battered by the winds and waves of circumstances around us. These storms will blow us off course if we’re not anchored to the right thing.

We live in a world today that is far different from the one I grew up in. We never thought about the possibility of school shootings, terrorist attacks, or bomb threats. When I was a little girl (this will tell you something about how old I am), we didn’t even lock our front door when we left town.

But, today, storms are brewing all around us. It’s rare to listen to the news and not hear of another murder, terrorist attack, school shooting, or some disturbing news. How are we to navigate these times without living in constant fear and anxiety?

We need hope. But we won’t find that hope in a national or world leader, material and financial security, or even in a spouse. We find our hope in Jesus Christ and Him alone.

Hebrews 6:18-20 reminds us of this.

“. . . we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

The way we navigate the storms of life without living in fear and anxiety is by taking hold of the hope set before us, Jesus Christ, our sure, steadfast anchor of the soul. We can be sure He will hold us fast.

What are some storms we will go through in life?

Storms of Doctrine

These are the storms of false doctrine and false teaching. For instance:

• “The Bible isn’t relevant today. It’s an ancient book. Times have changed. It’s okay to do these things now in today’s times.”
•  “God wants you to be happy, so do what makes you happy. That’s what God wants for you.”

The storms of doctrine contrary to God’s Word will blow us off course and shipwreck us unless we’re anchored to Christ, holding on tight to His Word, His truth, and not what the world tells us is true.

How do we overcome the storms of doctrine? Stay anchored to God’s Word.

If we stop spending time in His Word, we’re in danger when the storms of doctrine arise.

Storms of Difficulties and Disappointments

These storms are those difficult seasons of life when we go through trials, pain, distress, and disappointment. The winds of discouragement batter us, and we begin to ask God why. We may even move into the storm of doubt and begin to question His love for us.

How do we overcome the storms of difficulties and disappointments? Stay anchored to God’s character.

We focus on His love, His sovereignty, His omnipresence, His omniscience, His faithfulness instead of listening to what our feelings say is true.

Storms of Defeat

The storms of defeat are those times we sin, but we don’t deal with the sin and keep moving further and further off course. Or, we sin and confess, but we can’t move on. We feel defeated, useless, and doubt God’s forgiveness. When we don’t deal with sin and grab hold of God’s forgiveness, then we’re letting the enemy win, and he’ll take us under as we give into defeat.

How do we overcome the storms of defeat? Stay anchored to the Holy Spirit living within us.

He empowers us to resist sin, and He convicts us when we sin. Be attentive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit working within us.

Are you in the middle of a storm today? Take hold of the anchor set before us, Jesus Christ.

What other storms would you add to this list? What other things might we be tempted to grab hold of for hope instead of our anchor, Jesus Christ? I’d love to hear from you.