Encouragement from a Broken Heart

Today I am acutely aware of and sensitive to so many "ships" that are battered on this sea of life. Life seems to be a series of battered ships and torn masts: home evictions, debilitating illnesses, broken families and broken hearts, and a sense of What's it all about? A precious friend of mine, a vet, attempted suicide recently and it broke my heart. The responsibility of several children, no insurance for his debilitating illness, and home eviction became too much and he deliberately tried to end it all for himself. This man is a committed Christian, yet in the midst of deep depression he lost his way. This is not uncommon, even for Christians!

Since 1994 I have loved a song called "The Anchor Holds" written by Lawrence Chewning and Ray Boltz. It is one of the few songs that brings me to utter worship and encourages me when I, too, am battered by life. Today I would like to share this song with those who are struggling with broken masts and wavering faith.



I have journeyed through the long, dark night
Out on the open sea,
By faith alone, sight unknown,
And yet His eyes were watching me.

The Anchor holds, though the ship is battered.
The Anchor holds, though the sails are torn.
Well I have fallen on my knees,
as I faced the raging sea,
But the Anchor holds, in spite of the storm.

I've had visions and I've had dreams;
Well I've even held them in my hands,
But I never knew those dreams could slip right through
Like they were only grains of sand.

O, the Anchor holds, though the ship is battered.
The Anchor holds, though the sails are torn.
Well I have fallen on my knees,
as I faced the raging seas.
O, the Anchor holds, in spite of the storm.

Now I have been young, but I am older now.
O and there has been beauty these eyes have seen;
But it was in the night, when I faced the storms of my life.
Oh, that's where God proved His love to me.

The Anchor holds, though the ship is battered.
The Anchor holds, though the sails are torn.
I have fallen, fallen down on my knees
as I faced the raging seas.
But the Anchor holds; O, in spite of the storm.

I said I've fallen, fallen down on my knees
as I faced the raging seas;
But the Anchor holds, in spite of the storm.