People overwhelmed by their current circumstances painfully admit, “I am barely hanging on!” Difficult seasons hit us all. The loss of a loved one, a health crisis, someone we care about deconstructing their faith, or something else.

Envision someone “hanging on by a thread,” but a thread is too fine, too weak. So, replace the thread with a strong nylon fishing line. But even a fishing line is hard to grip. Okay, let’s imagine a thick rope. Now we’ve got it. And that rope is tied to a heavy chain which is attached to a large, sturdy anchor.

But what do we to hook our anchor to while in the midst of life’s storms? We do not want to find ourselves in a ship lost at sea or blown and tossed by the wind and waves. That could lead to being capsized! No. We need our anchor hooked securely on Jesus, our Rock!

The author of Hebrews included nautical terms writing, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19a). Readers are encouraged to “take hold of the hope offered to [them]” (Hebrews 6:18b). And finally, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).

Now recall the time Peter decided to walk to Jesus on water. When Peter turned his focus to the storm, he became afraid and began to sink. “Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him” (Matthew 14:31a).

May we keep our eyes focused on Jesus and our hope anchored in Him. Know that His hand is always ready to grasp ours in time of need for He is faithful, firm, and secure. So . . . reach out and hang on!