By Andy Smith

Time is an ocean, alternating between calm days and stormy days. On the calm days, Jesus sails with me into adventures and missions. On stormy days, He holds me in safety.

In church on Sunday morning, there was talk about time: we sang “I will bless the Lord forever” –“forever” is a type of time. We talked about discipleship, which is how we use time. Many of our ushers were young–people who have lots of time ahead of them.

We read in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians about God working with us over time, until we “grow up” and “become mature”–all expressions related to time. Paul’s comments in that letter also talk about being “tossed to and fro by waves”–a powerful water image. Bob Dylan sings “time is an ocean.”

If time is an ocean, and I’m being tossed around by waves, I need an anchor. The letter to the Hebrews tells me that God is unchangeable and that He is an anchor.

My life certainly has its storms. Trying to complete big projects by deadlines. Dealing with extended family when an aging relative has a health crisis.  Stretching our family’s income to cover expenses. Parenting a teenager. Jesus offers to be my anchor in the midst of those waves.

An anchor holds a boat in place–the boat doesn’t hold the anchor! Jesus hold me and steadies me in the middle of my storms. It’s a relief that I don’t have to anchor myself.

When storms pass, the anchor goes with the boat on its journeys. That same text in the letter to the Hebrews talks about “hope” and “promise,” forward-looking concepts that talk about the future. Jesus has plans for me, and He comes along with me into the future. He will show me tasks and help me complete them. That’s exciting!

Jesus is the anchor. He holds me in the flow of time, secure among the waves of trouble. If He didn’t hold me, I’d be in trouble! In his first letter to Timothy, Paul writes of those whose faith has been “shipwrecked” because they wriggled out of Christ’s rescuing grasp.

Time is an ocean, alternating between calm days and stormy days. On the calms days, Jesus sails with me into adventures and missions. On stormy days, He holds me in safety.

[youtube id=”NpRoA7PEsMM” width=”600″ height=”350″]

 [youtube id=”JYDcBfQEa64″ width=”600″ height=”350″]