We traveled this week on the Solimões River, a major tributary of the Amazon known for its brown, muddy water and its swift, strong currents. As this region nears the end of the rainy season, permanent members of the communities on the banks of the river are putting their lives and farms back together as the flood waters recede. Anyone who has spent of time in and around water knows that the current is a powerful thing, especially when we’re talking about a flooded river as large as the Amazon.
You learn quite quickly that anything not anchored down is as good as lost. No matter how big your boat or your house, the current has the power to pick it up and shift it around. Plants without deep roots will be ripped up and pushed around too. Something must have a firm and secure anchor if it’s going to survive currents and floods.
God’s word says in Hebrews (6:19) “We have this hope as an anchor for our soul, firm and secure…” This week I was struck by how much care we take to anchor our physical belongings. But in life’s spiritual and emotional currents, what kind of care do you take to anchor your soul? What foundation do you have in place to support you in whatever difficulty?
If you watch the video below, you’ll get a sense of what life is like for the volunteers and missionaries that serve these communities. As we spend time with the people of IPM (Presbyterian Church of Manaus), I’m so inspired by how their anchor - their faith - changes how they interact with the world around them. They are passionate about inviting others into the Wonder of the Gospel too. My prayer for each of us is that we take care to anchor our souls in something firm and secure - The Lord Jesus and His never-failing love.