When our second youngest son was about seven years old, he used to accompany me at times when I would speak. He would sit on the front row and I gave him an assignment to help him to listen with purpose as I spoke. He was to draw three pictures of something I said in the message and on the way home explain the photos and how it related to what I had been teaching. On one such occasion he had a man sitting in a fishing boat and from the back of the boat went a long diagonal line to the bottom of the page. Seemed odd as I had not mentioned fishing! But he explained it was a rope and was held by an anchor, and that I had mentioned God was our anchor! He got the point and his illustration of God being our anchor is not only truth from the book of Hebrews but a great reminder for us in times of trouble.

Four “Anchors”  in times of trouble to hold on to…

  1. – GOD IS IN CONTROL– He reigns as King, Sovereign over all the events , circumstances, people – all of these events He is working for good in a believer’s life and for His honor.
  • “The LORD sat as King at the flood; Yes, the LORD sits as KING FOREVER.” {Psalm 29:10}
  • “The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; He guides it wherever He pleases.”- {Proverbs 21:1}
  1. – GOD IS CONSISTENT– While situations, plans, dreams, events, people change around you, God is consistently the same, as He was, He is and will be, He can be counted upon to behave as He is eternally the same.
    “ I am GOD and I do not change.”– {Malachi 3:6}
  2. – GOD IS PRESENT- Often in trials we tend to fear He has abandoned us or forgot about us or He is not good, as if He was, this would not be happening. The apparent “silence,” or lack of “feelings”do not nullify or indicate His leaving or abandoning or disowning you. The absence of “feelings”are not to be believed as though He is no longer interested or for you. Such lack of the “feelings” of His “presence” are not to be trusted. They neither prevent His being present with you, or for you, in times of trouble. He is consistently the same. His promises are true and He is with you. The choice is to walk by “feelings”or faith in the Faithful One, who has SAID…
  • “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” – {Heb 13:5}
  • “…And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”- {Matt 28:20}
  • “Be strong and be courageous, do not be afraid nor discouraged for the LORD your God is with YOU WHEREVER YOU GO!” {Josh 1:9}
  • “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”- {Deut 31:6}
  • “…I can never get away from Your presence!”- {Psalm 139:7}
  1. GOD IS WORKING-He is always working, circumstances, events, people, as Sovereign, all of history is heading towards The ultimate destination… HIM, – “…all things were created by Him and for {towards} Him.”- {Col1:16}
  • “And we know that in all things GOD WORKS for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.”- {Romans 8:28}
  • “…for it is GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU to will and to act in order to fulfill HIS good purpose.”- {Phil 2:13.}

SILENTLY BUT EVER WORKING;

As millions of gallons of water work quietly beneath a forest, so God often works quietly nevertheless effectively in the circumstances of His people’s lives. He was working for your good before you were born. He was working on the cross for you. He was working in the resurrection for you. He was working when He convicted you. He was working when He saved you. God has been and is working constantly for your good, which is ultimately to conform you to the image of the Lord Jesus. He works with love for you. God IS at Work.

THINK on these 4 “ANCHORS of TRUTH” concerning the character of God to hold you in the storms of life and in times of trouble. TRUST HIM.

{from the Message, “Trusting God In Troubling Times”-Part 1 }