And Yet, They Sing

**Written in May 2011 and published as a Facebook note. I recently remembered it and decided to post it here as well.**

Recently, my dog slept in my room with me. She woke up early, sometime around 5 AM, and wanted me to take her outside. I got up and brought her downstairs, and let her out. It was still pitch dark out, but when I opened the door to let her out, I heard birds singing. For some reason this really struck me. It was completely dark outside. Yet, they sang. They sang, because they knew the light was coming. Morning was just around the corner. They couldn't see it just yet, but they were prepared, they were ready, they were anticipating the dawning of a new day with a hopeful cheeriness.

I started thinking about it for a while, and I realized that we, who believe and trust in Christ as our Savior, we have something to anticipate with a hopeful cheeriness as well. Christ is coming back! The birds await the dawn of a new day, they sing before they even see a hint of it coming. We KNOW that Christ will return, and we should live our lives as if He we return at any given moment! (which He could!) I should strive to make my life a living testimony of the hope that I have, to live my life anticipating my Savior's return. To me, if I was a bird, I think I'd be discouraged by the darkness. How would I know that the dawn was coming? But the birds know. They sing in the darkness, through the darkness. They have hope, and they eagerly, joyfully, await the sunrise. For some reason, this simple, small thing reminded me that I have an eternal Hope. Even in the dark times, I know that the Light is coming. I can live my life with a joy, eagerly awaiting the return of my Savior.

"I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life." -John 8:12 

Our Anchor

Sometimes in life it can feel like we are buoys in the ocean, tossed to and fro by the waves that come our way. 

But God is teaching me that it doesn't have to be like that. We don't HAVE to be moved by each wave, by every trial. 

In Hebrews 6:19, we are told that "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." (NIV) When I think about an anchor, I think of something that is solid, something that is trustworthy. It is secure, and it is reliable. 

That is what we have in Christ. Because of Him, and because of His sacrifice, we have hope. Hope that is an anchor for us. Christ is our anchor in life. He is solid, He is trustworthy, He is secure, and He is reliable. 

When a ship in the ocean isn't tied to an anchor, it can move in any direction. It is free to be bounced around by the waves that come its way. However, when a ship is tied to an anchor, it has something holding it in place. Waves will still come its way, but it won't be sent adrift. It will still be bounced a little by the waves, but the ship isn't going anywhere. It has the anchor giving it a firm foundation. 

That is what Christ is to us. He is our anchor. 

Waves and storms will still come, Christ did not promise an easy life if we follow Him. Instead, He guarantees problems (John 16:33), but He also promises to be with us, always (Matthew 28:20). It is how we respond when the problems come that is important. We can choose to let each and every feeling and circumstance move us, we can grumble, and we can be demanding of God. OR we can choose to cling to our anchor, to be thankful, and to remember that God is greater than any circumstance. No matter what trial you're facing, God is with you. He has a plan and a purpose through it all, even if you can't see it yet. He will grow you through the trials, but only if you let Him. 

God has been teaching me this lesson a lot lately, and I know that it is one that I will continue to learn as I go through life. My prayer is that I'll let Him teach me and stretch me through whatever life brings my way, and that through it ALL, I'll cling to Christ, my Anchor. 

Choose to fix your eyes on Christ, your Anchor, rather than on your circumstances. 

Choose to be controlled by the Spirit, rather than by your feelings. 

Choose to be defined by who you are in Christ, rather than by your struggles. 

Choose to hold on to the Anchor through life, through each stormy season. He will not let you down.