Anchored

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure."Hebrews 6:19

It's either the gray hair, my recent birthday or it's all part of the human condition, but lately, I need Post-It notes to remind me of everything, even why my alarm is ringing.

And I've found my soul forgets, too. It forgets whose daughter I am, who holds my future and who anchors my boat. Lately, it needs reminding more often.

Maybe it's a girl thing?

The women closest to Jesus suffered forgetfulness, too. They thought all hope was gone that first Resurrection morning when they found Jesus' tombstone rolled away and his body missing! You can imagine their panic, "This can't be happening?! Who would steal our Lord's body? Where have they taken him? What will we tell the others?"

And at that moment, in the midst of their amnesia, God sent a reminder. Two angels appeared saying, "He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words" (Luke 24:6-8) and headed back to tell the disciples.

But, who would believe these women? Surely, the disciples would think them mad, overcome with grief? Maybe God knew that, too.

Matthew tells us, "Suddenly Jesus met them. 'Greetings,' he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.'"

God reminded these women not only of Jesus' own words of hope for the third-day resurrection, but God provided them a Jesus encounter; physical proof of this resurrection. Their resurrection hope met the reality of God's promise fulfilled. At that point their hope was fully anchored. Firm. Secure. Immovable.

And we need these reminders and Jesus-encounters, too.

Scripture serves as our reminder of this same hope - first Resurrection Sunday hope -  and anchors our souls firm and secure and immovable in God's promises. And community, meeting together with fellow believers in Christ, encouraging one another in faith, serves as our Jesus encounters - proof that He's alive through the power of his Holy Spirit in them and us.

There's certain people God placed in my life this weekend who served as encouragers of His hope and helped re-anchor my soul. They offered encouraging words, a prayer, a hug, a phone call and an email, turned my eyes back to God's word for my remembrance. To them, I'm forever grateful how God uses you in such a powerful way in my life and always at just the right time. 

Who has God placed in your life to help anchor you? Is there someone God's placed on your heart to speak encouraging words into their heart? Don't hesitate. Their soul needs help remembering and anchoring.