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Many times, when we fall into trials we may be tempted to ask, "Where is God? Well, God is there even when we can't see Him.

On gray, gloomy, rainy days, high above the overcast sky, the sun continues to shine. We can't feel its warmth or see its beauty, but it still exists.

God's beauty and His love for us are real even when our circumstances are difficult. If we think "above the clouds," we can have hope knowing that God is still there.

Just as gray, gloomy, overcast skies are temporary, so are our difficulties. If you are facing a discouraging situation in your life right now, remember that God is still there and rejoice in the fact that this too shall pass.

Sometimes, things are a little more intense than just a lttle rain. Many times, there are huge storms that come into our lives. But again, these shall pass as well.

God uses these storms to produce good fruit in us. The bible says we should rejoice and "Count it all joy when we fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces patience so that we may be made perfect, complete, and lacking nothing" (James 1:2-4).

Stories have been told about the only thing that saved the lives of people aboard a ship in a storm was a strong anchor. But, there are also stories of those who perished when their anchor did not hold.

Luke and the Apostle Paul were aboard a ship that was tossed by a raging storm. Luke writes in Acts 27:29, about the actions of the crew, "Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, we dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight."

It is written, "The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knows them who trust Him" (Nahum 1:7).

God is a strong anchor! Those who perished when their anchor did not hold apparently had weak anchors. What, or who, are you depending on to hold you in your storm? Is it some person? Is it money? Or, is it God?

God should be your anchor because salvation can be found in no other. Jesus said, "I do not pray that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from evil" (John 17:15). This is a promise that God will be our anchor in the storm and that He will keep us in His care, but only if we let Him.

A chorus in Ray Boltz' song entitled, "The Anchor Holds," goes like this:

The anchor holds

Though the ships been battered

The anchor holds

Though the sails are torn

I have fallen on my knees

As I face life's raging seas

The anchor holds

In spite of the storm

What a great message for those who are in the midst of a storm in their life!

In times of fair weather we have comfort of knowing our anchor is there. But, in a storm, our faith will be tested and then we will be challenged to believe that our anchor is still there.

Be encouraged if things are not what you want them to be. God has a wonderful plan for your life and He may be just using a storm to work on the inside of you right now. Ask Him to hold you up, strengthen you, and help you learn what He is trying to teach you. God is faithful and "Blessed is He who endures" (James 1:12).

God clearly wants us to trust Him. So sometimes, to remember the strength of our anchor, we will need to feel the strength of the storm.

Copyright 2005 Daniel N Brown