Tag: anchor

when the going gets rough

Karla Lees

I get a bit queasy on buses & boats.

As long as I can keep my eyes fixed on a permanent spot, I am able to calm myself.

In our daily lives, the waters can become rough with towering waves in the blink of an eye.

Insecurity & doubt can rise to try and crash over us.

That task you thought was impossible you now know is almost unachievable the closer you get to it.

And then He lovingly whispers to you, “Do not be afraid, I am here.”

The words “I am” at first don’t seem too deep, just letting the reader know the person speaking is there.

But God’s very name IS “I AM”.

So its not just a person present, but the God of all ages, past present & future, who is right there in that moment.

Once a day, you can read a verse where God speaks to His children, “Do not be afraid,” or “Fear not.”

Coz He knows many of us need that daily reminder to soak in deep. To help center us in the storm. To keep our eyes on the StormKeeper instead of the storm itself.

God is not a distant being far removed from His creation, His children.

He dug in deep for the long haul wit humanity since He first brought Adam & Eve to life.

He stepped in and made a way back Home for all who believe in Him though Jesus.

But He didn’t stop there.

The Word is filled with stories of broken, stumbling people like you and I. Ones who break the rules, veer off the path, leap before looking or react without thinking it through.

God has woven Himself through each and every story recorded in the Word.  Literally & figuratively.

He literally is the same God now as He was in those recorded stories.

For I AM never ages.

He is not bound by the laws of time & space as humanity is, God He was, is and always will be.

For I AM is beyond our limits.

He has not hidden His heart from His children, but lavishly displays it every single day.

Through each sunrise & sunset.
Through each new birth.
Through each rain drop, gust of wind, new growth in the gardens & fields.
Through each act of love where the receiver’s needs are placed ahead of the giver’s.
Through each smile, hug, belong hand.
Through His Words, recorded across time, language & culture, encompassing a small glimpse into the mighty I AM we can spend eternity getting to know in His entirety.
Through His Son, the anchor of God’s love in any storm which may come our way. He is the Lighthouse showing us the way back Home, in His embrace.
Through Holy Spirit, the GPS reminding us the way to take, and how much we are loved as we make our way towards Him.
Through the love of the Father. Who will never stop calling to us above the waves to hold on, He’s got us.

Feeling a little seasick from the storm?

Stop filling your eyes with the view of the storm.

Start fixing your hope, your heart on the Anchor above it all.

God is the only one who will never fail you in any storm. His commitment to you lead Him to the cross, His love for you kept Him there. His desire for you caused Him to overturn death & make His way back to you.

The God I write about is alive.
Active. The Great “I AM.”

His promise holds fast.
Do not be afraid, I AM with you.
Every day, through every storm, in everything.

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when it rains….

Karla Lees

There is an awful lot of storming going on around right now.

Chaos attempts to take over previously peaceful shores.

Grey clouds try to block the sun as far as the naked eye can see.

Heavy weights falls on shoulders not strong enough to take the load.

When it rains this kind of rain, we need to drop to our knees.

We cannot break through to the Son until we admit how desperately we need Him at the first glimpse of the storm.

Only He knows whether it’s a hail storm, hurricane, tornado or sun shower headed our way.

Asking for His help ensures we have the One who sees what is up ahead guiding us through what is to come.

Instead of it being a weakness, our bowing down & pressing in close  enables Him to strengthen us beyond our physical abilities.

We can come through and overcome any storm, any rain when God is with us..

All around me, I am seeing pain, hurt, crisis,  instability.

I am also learning to sense God more in the moment, to depend on His rock solid stability, never-changingness, dependability, constant Presence.

The more the storm swirls & rages, the closer I try to be to God. 

Because He is the only anchor that will remain.

For money changes hands in the blink of an eye, physical beauty & health fade over time, losses & grief are inevitable.

Only God remains above, through, in, with and beyond it all.

When the hard times rain, He will fill you with all you need to make it through.

He not only is with us in it, He covers us from its worst.

He alone is our safety & refuge in the storms of life.

Today the rains around me have accelerated into tornado warnings. The winds have picked up over the waves, which are beginning to rock.

I am holding my peace, because I am holding onto the Prince of Peace for dear life.

And He is holding me, my Anchor through the storms, through it all.

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our foundation

Karla Lees

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.

Hebrews 11:1-2

It is only our faith in God which allows us to stand, even when surrounded by darkness.

Knowing He is our firm foundation helps us hold on, for it is our act of faith that distinguishes us here on this planet. From those who wander without an anchor tethering them through their lives.

And in the reaching out in faith towards Him, despite our doubts or what we can see about us, we find God has been reaching for us. Holding us close, anchoring us to Him, our firm foundation.

God with us, He makes life worth living. Despite the ups & downs you may be experiencing. Despite the brokenness and hopeless feelings you might feel. Despite being alone, lost or seeking shelter.

He alone can your life be built upon, this eternal foundation. God before all time & space as we know it.

Because let’s face it. Anything else is only temporary.

Feeling overwhelmed in the storm? Doubled over with pain, loss? Alone to your core? Listless and without purpose?

Reach for Him if you are searching for a life that matters.

Note: This verse and italicized words were first published Jan 14th, 2015 as a guest “Drop of Encouragement” that I wrote for Remade Ministries.  You can check it out at:
Drop of Encouragement- Our Foundation

let go

Karla Lees

Yesterday morning, I had a strong impression during the church service.

Our pastor was saying how much God was wanting us to go deeper with Him, and invited us to pray along those lines.

In that moment, I saw a picture of myself clinging onto a buoy out at sea.
The waves were high and a storm was stirring things up.

I was afraid, and clinging out of fear onto the buoy for dear life.

And God whispered to me, “You can let go now. I won’t let you drown. The waves will not overcome you as you follow me into the deep. You will be safe in My arms.”

As a child, I had a fear of falling, having fallen out of a moving car as a preschooler.

My fear of heights was rooted in my fear of falling.

It has become obvious to me that my fear of falling is not fully uprooted from the image I saw yesterday.

I am still afraid.

I still doubt that God is going to catch me, carry me, keep me safe in some part deep within me.

And God loves me too much, so much, He doesn’t want that fear directing me any longer.

So He highlighted it for me in such a way that I could see it, and His living care, all at once.

He wants me all in, not keeping parts of myself tethered to fear.

Storms, major and minor, have come and gone in my life, and will continue to do so all the seasons of my life.

God has been there, rock solid, for each and every one.

I can depend on Him to hold me.
To keep me safe.
To continue to love me no matter what.

He needs me to let go and trust:

He is more than enough to keep my head above water.

He will guide me where He leads His river to take me.

His love for me is so great it will squelch my fear if I let Him have it,and replace it with a greater sense of His presence.

His love is my anchor.

The waves may be high; His love is higher still.

The water will be deeper than I can reach at times; His reach is deeper than I can imagine.

The storms may be darker than a moonless midnight sky; His Presence is bright enough to light my way.

I need to let go of the buoy of fear, and leap into His waiting arms.

Do you need to join me?

Let’s make the leap from fear together.

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Painting by: http://fromourcove.blogspot.ca/2013/08/fairway-buoy.html?m=1