JEREMIAH 31:3 – The LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
THEME OF THE DAY. OUR ANCHORS IN THE STORMS OF LIFE. In the journey called “life”, we are going to sail through many storms. We may borrow a word from the Apostle Paul to describe them. It is a word he used to encourage the new believers in the churches of Asia Minor – tribulations. We read, When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:21-22). So, since it is inevitable that we must go through many tribulations, what are the two “anchors” to keep us stable during these storms? They are found in today’s scripture.
The first anchor of the soul in the storms of life is the love of God, but not just the love of God, the everlasting love of God – I have loved you with an everlasting love. Cling to this when life is tumultuous, difficult, and makes no sense. Unlike the waves of the ocean that ebb and flow; and unlike the ever-changing circumstances in life, God’s love is everlasting in its unchanging nature. He will not waver in loving us, even when we waver in our faith. And the more we hold to the “the anchor of His everlasting love”, the more we will be stabilized in the unstable nature of life in a cursed world.
The second anchor of the soul in the storms of life is the faithfulness of God – therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. Here is where we find the greatest of encouragement and strength in the storms of life. Remember, it is not our faithfulness that keeps us safe in the arms of our all-powerful God. It is His faithfulness; His steadfast commitment to Himself and us. Let these words to Timothy from the Apostle Paul be that “anchor” holding us steady in the storms of life – The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself (2 Timothy 2:11-13). What a wonderful truth! In our many doubts, fears, and unbelief, descriptions of our wavering faith, the Lord remains unchanging in His faithfulness, not only to us, but to Himself. It is resting ourselves, even throwing ourselves, upon the character of God. This is where our strength lies. It is where our hope of enduring to the end lies. It is where the Christian finds joy to daily follow the God of all grace, all mercy, all love, and who will never change being all!
Yes, believer, life is aptly described as “full of storms and wave after wave of difficulties and trials.” Yet, the God of storms is also the God who stabilizes His people in those storms. He does so by the anchors of His everlasting love and faithfulness. Hold onto them. They will hold our hearts, minds, and lives in all the storms of life.
PRAYER: “Lord, I praise You for Your everlasting love and faithfulness; my anchors in life.”
QUOTE: “The everlasting love and faithfulness in our unchanging God calms all storms in our lives.”