The Promised Anchor By Hannah Rule
Are you desperately trying to tread water but are being crushed by massive waves?
You aren’t alone. A little bit about me: I’m a helper. I help my family, friends, coworkers, strangers, people in need, etc. This would be why I am starting my second career as a counsellor when I finish my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health degree at 35 next year. I have this pull, this passion for walking next to others in their valleys and helping in any way I can. The problem with this? Helping others is morphing my identity into a helper instead of a witness of what Jesus has done in my life, and burn out. Lots of burn out. It has become really hard to help everyone I see when I have extra weights that I don’t usually carry around.
I’m currently a full-time graduate student, counselling intern, part-time behavioural aide to foster children, newly married wife, daughter helping my mother through a difficult year, and a woman grieving the death of a man that became her second father. I’m holding a lot of weight, and I don’t think treading water is going to work anymore. I need an anchor. Google gave me a great anchor definition that I never thought of before.
/ anchor / a person or thing that provides stability or confidence in an otherwise uncertain situation.
Remember that feeling of treading water but can’t hold your head above the crashing waves? Sometimes, the waves never stop coming and depending on how strong the waves are, you may never get solid footing. I looked for a solid foundation to plant my feet in my marriage, friends, hobbies, and small vacations. Unfortunately, these were not lasting foundations even though they helped for a brief moment. I needed to feel grounded.
We sang this song at church recently, Promises by Maverick City, and these lyrics stopped me in my tracks: “I put my faith in Jesus My anchor to the ground My hope and firm foundation He'll never let me down” I got this clear picture in my head of a strong anchor holding a large ship in the raging sea. The waves hit the ship, but they did not overtake it. I realized I wasn’t looking for something to carry all the weight, I was looking for an anchor for my weary soul. I was then reminded of this scripture:
“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 6:19-20 ESV
This got me thinking more about anchors. Did you know that anchors are not pretty? They are rusty, covered in seaweed, and banged up. They go through a lot to hold a ship steady. But they’re strong, and they last. That is the kind of solid foundation I need right now: one that can take the crashing waves of grief, anxiety, and sorrow and not break under pressure. My anchor has not been Jesus, and I think that may be one of the reasons why I can’t find my footing. He is the firm foundation that will take on the waves and the muck to keep me grounded, but I have to trust in my Anchor. Another week has started. Are you being tossed around by the angry sea? Find your Anchor. Hold on for dear life. He’ll never let you down.
I am currently a Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate student working towards becoming a licensed counselor. I received my Master’s of Divinity from Mercer University’s seminary school in 2020 and have worked and served in the church through youth ministry for over 14 years. I am an ordained minister and am currently a Family Coach and Behavioral Aide working with foster children at the Methodist Children’s Home. I live in Macon, GA with my husband of four years, Patrick, and we absolutely love being aunt and uncle to our three nieces and nephew. I am excited to be writing more and hope God uses my words to reach those that need to know they are loved.