Do you have an anchor in your life? Something that keeps you from being tossed around or “carried out to sea”.

The Reliability Of Rhythm

Our family has always operated on the school calendar. Both my parents and my husband’s parents worked with students in their careers, so when we say “next year,” we mean the next school year. Consequently, we are starting a “new year” of school for our children. Even if your family isn’t impacted by this change in your schedule, you are seeing the signs of this shift. There are school supplies at the front of every store, kids outside practicing football or track or marching band. The season is changing. And while I love starting a new season, I am also trying to stay more present in the season I am currently in, rather than wishing the next one would arrive.

As we wrapped up our summer and a calmer season in our home, my family gathered with my parents and nearly all our extended family for a week. 21 people in one house! We stayed at a home on Lake Michigan. It was loud and a little chaotic—and a perfect end to summer! The first couple of days, we had beautiful weather. The lake was calm and refreshing, and we played on the beach all day. The last two days, storms rolled in, and the wind kicked up. The beach was shut down. There were people patrolling on ATVs and even a helicopter watching to ensure people were not getting in the water.

When Things Shift

We have visited Lake Michigan a lot over the years and have never seen waves that strong or beaches shut down like that! It was fun to experience the two different types of weather and see the shift in the water.

When you looked out on Monday, it was easy to see the buoys across the smooth water and keep an eye on everyone. I think that day our son even managed to climb on top of one?! But by Thursday, those barriers were hard to spot. They were submerged and tossed around by giant waves The whitecaps made it even harder to find them. The anchors were working overtime, but they stayed connected. I couldn’t help but think that this is how our life sometimes feels. Seasons shifting from calm to chaos, from “easy” to incredibly difficult. I know we have had times when our family was tossed around and barely hanging on.

Recently, we were studying in chapter 3 of Philippians. Verse 3 really stuck with me as I was preparing for Sunday morning:

“For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised (SET APART). We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort.”

Trust In Your Anchor

As we shift into this new season, it’s easy to rely on our own effort. Get the calendar organized, get the school supplies, make the lists of things that need to be done. It can be exhausting! Some days it feels like we are being tossed around like those buoys and barely keeping our heads above the water. But we are anchored to a God who has set us apart and who—through Christ Jesus—has given us life and hope and peace.

Whether you are in a season of calm or chaos, know that our anchor does not change. And any effort we give will not shift the truth of who God is and what He has done for us. I truly believe that in every season, He is working and revealing His love and good plans for us. Keep holding on to Him, seeking His plans, and trusting that you do not have to weather any storm alone.