Photo and Commentary ©2023 by Maylan Schurch
Sabbath, August 12, 2023
This past Tuesday while waiting at a traffic light, I noticed this decal on the rear window of a car slightly ahead of me to my left. I’ll confess that I’m not a close enough follower of sports to even know whether the anchor decal is a team’s logo, but I do know that it’s coming loose at the top. Another winter’s weather might find it totally gone.
If you’ve been following the news, you’ve heard about the wildfire devastation on the island of Maui. These tragedies can shake our faith in nature, as well as in a normally well-ordered life.
Even though such destruction isn’t new, and sadly will be part of our planet until time’s end, the Bible firmly assures us that we can be spiritually secure. Before I give you a link to six “security Scriptures,” read and meditate (and hum along with, if you know it) the following old gospel song:
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?
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 the blast, through strength divine.
It will firmly hold in the straits of fear,
When the breakers have told the reef is near;
Though the tempest rave and the wild winds blow,
Not an angry wave shall our bark o’erflow.
It will surely 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, in the dawning light,
Shining gates of pearl, our harbor bright,
We shall anchor fast to the heavenly shore,
With the storms all past forevermore.
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.
–Priscilla J. Owens