The waves rolled fierce and fast, tossing our small boat as we made our way off the coast of Australia. The sea was violent, and I remember gripping the rail, fighting off waves of nausea, and praying we’d get to calm waters soon. I was so seasick I could barely lift my head, and every swell felt like it might be the one that did me in. Years later, the sweatshirt I bought when boarding the boat still makes my stomach lurch when I see it.
What started as a beautiful day on the ocean turned into one of the most miserable experiences of my life. I was with a group of girlfriends exploring the Great Barrier Reef when a storm hit. The sun disappeared behind angry clouds, the winds picked up, and before I knew it, we were being tossed by massive waves that turned my stomach inside out. I buried my head in the hood of my new sweatshirt, completely at the mercy of the storm, whispering through clenched teeth, “Just get me to land!”
That day I learned something important: When the waves are relentless, the only thing you want is something solid and unmoving beneath your feet.
I don’t know what storm you’re in today. Maybe it came without warning — a phone call with life-altering news, a job loss, a betrayal you never saw coming, or a deep, aching loneliness you can’t shake. Maybe your storm looks like anxiety that won’t let up or depression that keeps you in bed. Maybe it’s parenting through exhaustion, walking through infertility, watching your marriage strain under the weight of unspoken resentment, or watching the world unravel around you. Storms come in all shapes, and they don’t ask permission. But here’s the truth I cling to: Jesus is the Anchor of our souls. “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Heb. 6:19).
When everything feels like it’s slipping, when nothing around you makes sense, when the wind and the waves of life keep crashing in, Jesus doesn’t move. He isn’t tossed or shaken. He holds.
When You Can’t Hold It All Together
Sometimes we think faith means keeping it all together, smiling through the storm. But that’s not biblical faith. Real faith doesn’t deny the wind and waves — it looks straight at them and still chooses to trust the One who commands the seas.
Think of Peter. Bold, passionate, flawed Peter. The man who walked on water when his eyes were fixed on Jesus and sank the moment he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the storm (see Matt. 14:28-31). I love Peter’s story because it reminds me faith isn’t about perfection; it’s about where we set our gaze.
Sure, Peter messed up. He denied Jesus three times and he often misunderstood the mission, and yet Jesus restored him, filled him with the Holy Spirit, and used him powerfully to build the early church. In Acts, we see Peter preaching with courage, healing the sick, and standing in front of hostile religious leaders, saying, “We must obey God rather than people” (Acts 5:29). This same man who once cowered by a fire now stood firm in the face of persecution. Why? Because his anchor wasn’t in his ability — it was in his Savior.
And that same anchor holds me and you.
When the World Has Lost Its Mind
Let’s be honest: This world feels unhinged. Truth is mocked. Righteousness is ridiculed. Fear and confusion are the air we breathe. But let’s never forget — we have a living hope. We are not drifting in the dark.
Peter, writing to the early church believers who were facing fiery trials and cultural pressure, reminded them (and us) of this very thing: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pet. 1:3).
This isn’t optimism. This isn’t “positive vibes.” This is resurrection hope — bloodbought, Spirit-sealed, eternity-secure kind of hope. Hope that doesn’t flinch in the face of death. Hope that doesn’t unravel when the world does.
When the News Breaks Your Heart
Some of the most painful storms we face begin with a phone call, a doctor’s report, or a sentence we never wanted to hear: “There’s nothing more we can do.” “It’s cancer.” “I’m leaving.” “Your child has …” On days like that, you’re not expected to be superhuman. You’re invited to be real and rooted. You’re invited to run to the One who is both refuge and rock.
Psalm 46:1 reminds us, “God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.” He’s not far off. He’s not waiting for you to toughen up or get it together. He’s right there in the boat with you, whispering, “Peace, be still.”
And even when the storm doesn’t stop, your soul can be still because your anchor holds.
What to Do in the Middle of the Storm
If you’re in it right now, let me gently speak to your weary heart.
- Fix your eyes on Jesus. Not on the waves. Not on the news. Not on your own strength. Look up. He is enough.
- Stay in the Word. When everything else
shifts, God’s Word stands firm. Let it steady
your steps and anchor your thoughts. - Don’t isolate. You’re not alone. Reach out. Let someone pray with you. Let the church be the church to you.
- Remember eternity. This storm is not forever. Your suffering is real, but it’s not ultimate. Jesus has secured your future. One day, every tear will be wiped away.
So whether you’re seasick in the storm or standing on solid ground today, take heart. You have an anchor. Not a flimsy rope, not a wishful thought — a Savior who conquered death, who reigns above every storm, and who holds you tighter than you could ever hold onto Him.
You may be whispering, “Just get me to land,” but Jesus is saying, “I’m with you in the boat.” And, friend, that is more than enough.
This article was written by Marian Jordan Ellis, who is the author of Anchored: The Life and Letters of the Apostle Peter. As a Bible teacher, Marian is passionate about equipping women to know, love, and follow Jesus. She graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and currently serves as the Women’s Ministry Director at Mission City Church in San Antonio, Texas. Additionally, she is the founder of This Redeemed Life Ministry.
This article originally appeared in the October 2025 edition of HomeLife Magazine.
