If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do (Psalm 11:3)?
Our Father and our God, You are our rock of refuge (Psalm 31:2). How we thank You that Your timeless truths are an anchor for our souls!
All around us we see the foundations give way—literally, and figuratively. Without You, O Rock of Ages, we too would crumble. But we hold on to the promises and the encouragement You have left us:
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling… (Psalm 46:1-3 NKJV).
Even now Lord, many are suffering devastation, death, and destruction from massive earthquakes. Many are confronting the wreckage left by landslides. Many are reeling from the havoc in the wake of storms, tornadoes, fires, extreme weather events, and other natural disasters. O God, help us! We lift up to Your care those even now in a desperate hour.
Father, your eyes see our plight. You know we are surrounded by turmoil not just in the natural and scientific world, but also in our social, political, economic, and personal life. War, unrest, inflation, famine and starvation ravage our world. And in the midst of it we battle disease, and outbreaks, and pandemics, and emergent threats. The mental and emotional toll have been enormous.
Yet, Lord, trusting in Your word, we will not fear, though the earth give way, and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea... (Psalm 46:2 NIV). In the roaring tsunamis of deceit, deception, greed, and corruption; in the quaking mountains of violence, death, disease, and evil we will not fear. Because You are with us. Even in the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4).
Merciful God, we know that it is only because of Your unfailing compassions that we are not utterly consumed by the ravages of sin on Your perfect creation. We thank You for Your renewed mercies day by day (Lamentations 3:22). But we know Your creation will continue to groan until You bring final liberation from the bondage of corruption (Romans 8:21-22).
Until then, O Lord, we hold fast to You. When the foundations are destroyed, when all that is true and sure seems swept away and we don't even know where to put our feet, we find stillness in the knowledge that You are God. We fasten our anchor to the Stone You have lain in Zion, Jesus, the "chief cornerstone, elect, precious. And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” (1 Peter 2:6).
Will your anchor hold in the storms of life, When the clouds unfold their wings of strife? When the strong tides lift and the cables strain, Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?
Refrain: We have an anchor that keeps the soul Steadfast and sure while the billows roll, Fastened to the Rock which cannot move, Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.
It is safely moored, ’twill the storm withstand, For ’tis well secured by the Savior’s hand; And the cables, passed from His heart to mine, Can defy that blast, through strength divine.
It will surely hold in the straits of fear, When the breakers have told that the reef is near; Though the tempest rave and the wild winds blow, Not an angry wave shall our bark o’erflow.
It will firmly hold in the floods of death, When the waters cold chill our latest breath; On the rising tide it can never fail, While our hopes abide within the Veil.
When our eyes behold through the gath’ring night The city of gold, our harbor bright, We shall anchor fast by the heav’nly shore, With the storms all past forevermore.
~ Priscilla J. Owens ~ 1882
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