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Anchors and storms are a frequent theme with me.

It started with the verse I put on my husband’s grave stone before anchors were a decorating thing! I included Hebrews 6:19 (We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. NIV) because it was one he loved, and because I needed the hope at a time when I felt most hopeless.

My family and I see anchors everywhere now.

One funny thing we saw recently was a picture for the wall that had an anchor with the words “refuse to sink”. Okay, just let those words sink in a moment (pun intended…) Refuse to sink? What exactly is the job of an anchor? I have never been sailing like our lovely Sheryl Pepple, but I do believe that the very nature of an anchor is to SINK!! That is its job. Wouldn’t it be like a balloon with the words, “refuse to float”? Those words were also on the packaging for some earrings/necklace that my kids bought me for Mother’s Day once.

So in my quest to always find interesting things about storms and anchors, I heard a phrase I had never heard before.

“Tie me to the mast”

This phrase was used by Homer in the Odyssey when the captain of the ship wanted to prevent himself from being tempted by the sirens and crashing the ship on the rocks. The sirens would call to the ships, luring them into the rocks and certain death. Their enchanting songs would ensnare the sailors.

But the phrase is also used another way. In really severe storms, the sailors would tie themselves to the mast for safety. The mast was the strongest point so this would prevent them from being tossed overboard.

I have certainly faced some strong storms in the last few years.

I believe any ONE of which could have tossed me into the abyss. You have had yours too. Was it marriage trouble? an eating disorder? bankruptcy? cancer? eviction? a car wreck? addiction? All these on top of widowhood?

When these storms hit us, and they will, we have to have the ropes ready to strap ourselves to the mast of Truth – the Truth of God’s Word, the foundation of salvation found in Christ, and the forgiveness found at the Cross. We cannot be tossed around or ensnared by the emotions we will have. Oh, I hear my emotions calling out to me, telling me that my feelings mean more than truth, and that my feelings can be trusted this time.

But feelings cannot ever be trusted to guide us in a storm.

Feelings were not made for storms! Feelings are like the evil mermaids calling to us from the shore, willing us to untie the ropes from our safety at the mast and jump to our death in the water. Feelings are said to be good passengers but not dependable drivers. We need feelings, but we should never allow them to control us.

Tie me to the mast, sister. Hold me accountable to the Truth of Scripture. Call me out when I use the compass of my feelings instead of God as my True North.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:105 KJV

Father God, guide me in life today. Show me the truth of Scripture and give me the desire to search its depths for pearls of wisdom. Protect me from my own emotions that try desperately to control me when Your Truth needs to be my guiding compass. Bring others into my life to hold me accountable to the Truth. Amen