Holding Fast to Hope

Have you ever been in a boat when the waters turned rough?
Maybe on a lake or a river. You start off with a good weather report. The skies are clear. The breeze is calm. Then suddenly the wind picks up. The water grows choppy. Your boat rocks, and fear starts to rise in your chest.

Depending on the size of your boat—or your barge—you feel very small and very vulnerable.

But those who know the water? They don’t panic.
They head for a cove, a sheltered place, and they throw out the anchor. And they wait.

Because here’s what they know: every storm runs out of energy. Every storm ends.

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Same Storm, Different Boats

During the pandemic, we heard over and over: “We’re all in the same boat.”
But let’s be honest—maybe we were all in the same storm, but not in the same boat.

Some had sturdy ships with full crews and plenty of support. Others were clinging to driftwood, barely staying afloat.
Some had tools, resources, coping strategies. Others felt overwhelmed and unsure of the outcome.

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What Scripture Reminds Us

In Hebrews 6, we’re encouraged to press on—“to move beyond just the basic teachings of the Anointed One.” In other words: don’t stay stuck in the past.
We’re not meant to row backward. The captain of a ship doesn’t look behind to navigate. They look ahead—toward the open sea, toward hope, trusting that the anchor will hold.

We’re called to do the same.
Yes, we learn from our past, but we live in the now—and we look ahead, with certain hope.

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Has the Church Drifted?

Let’s speak truth: the Church today—especially the wider Church—feels like it’s run aground.
We’re being battered by many rocks:

• Fatigue – So many of us are burned out.
• Bewilderment – How did we end up here?
• Financial pressure – Too much going out, not enough coming in.
• Indifference – “It doesn’t really matter to me.”

But Scripture speaks into this storm, too.

Paul urges us to pray without ceasing—with thanksgiving.
Jesus didn’t just tell us how to pray—He showed us how to live through the storms.

He showed us how to love—not based on how others live, or worship, or even believe—but simply to love.

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Four Anchors in the Storm

Let’s not over complicate this.
When the storm rages and the Church feels adrift, here are four anchors to steady us:

1. Pray.
2. Turn to the Word—turn to Jesus.
3. Look ahead, not back.
4. And pray again.

When we shift our eyes from ourselves to Jesus, the next steps become clearer.
When we shift from inward focus to outward mission, we become more than just a building on the corner. We transform into the hands and feet of Christ.

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A Covenant to Move Ahead

So let’s make a pact with one another.

Let’s stand together in the light of the living Christ, as we pass through the storm toward calm waters.

Because here’s a truth we need to remember:
No ship anchored at shore can fulfill its mission.
It can’t deliver goods, it can’t ferry people, it can’t grow or explore.

Comfort is easy—but faith is not about ease.
Faith is about action. Movement. Participation.

Maybe we don’t row like we used to.
Maybe we can’t run marathons or even drive across town.
But our smiles still matter.
A kind word. A phone call. A simple “thank you.”
Our hearts can still grow in Christ.

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Keep Your Eyes on Jesus

Remember when Jesus called Peter out of the boat?
Peter stepped out onto the water—but the moment he took his eyes off Jesus, he began to sink.

We must keep our eyes on Christ.
Because we do have an anchor—an anchor that keeps the soul, steadfast and sure while the billows roll.

Let’s look to the horizon, to the One who loves us.
Let’s move ahead—together. Amen.