Anchored and Adrift: Holding Onto Hope When Life Feels Unsettled

One of my favorite places in the world is a lake house on Center Hill Lake. The view is stunning (pictured below), and the home itself has become a haven of peace.

If we visit during the warmer months, my friends and I often rent a pontoon boat for the day. We love to find a quiet cove where we can relax, read, swim, and soak in the sun.

There’s only one problem: the lake is too deep for our anchor line.

We’ll close our eyes in the sun, only to open them and realize we’ve drifted—toward the shoreline or sometimes out into the open water. It’s peaceful… until it isn’t. That subtle drift can be unsettling when you realize how far you’ve gone without noticing.

Sometimes life feels just like that.
When everything around us is changing, when our future feels unclear, or when the storms of life roll in—we long for something steady. Something secure. Something to anchor us when we feel adrift.

Hope is Our Anchor

What holds you steady when everything else is shifting?

My grandfather, “Papa Doc,” was a Methodist minister. I never had the chance to meet him, but I know him through the stories passed down from my mom and grandmother. He didn’t just preach—he sang, and music has always been sacred to our family.

Old hymns tie me to that legacy of faith. The lyricists of those songs often wrote straight from scripture, and their words still speak peace to my soul today.

One of those hymns, “We Have an Anchor” by Priscilla J. Owens (1882), echoes the hope we find in Christ:

“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.”

What I love about this hymn is the honest line: “while the billows roll.” The waves still come. But our hope—anchored in Christ—holds firm.

This beautiful image comes from Hebrews 6:19, which says:

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”

Even when we feel shaken, this verse reminds us of God's unshakable nature. His promises are firm. His love is constant. He is the Rock which cannot move.

When the Storm Doesn’t Stop

Sometimes, though, we’re not just in a moment of drifting. Sometimes, iit’s a storm with no end in sight.

In Acts 27, the apostle Paul is a prisoner on a ship headed for Rome. The journey quickly goes from inconvenient to dangerous. The wind fights against them, progress is slow, and despite Paul’s warning, the crew presses on—into a storm that nearly destroys them.

A hurricane-force wind hurls the ship out of control. The sailors try to hold it together with ropes. They throw cargo overboard. Days pass with no sun, no stars, and no direction. And then the heartbreaking line:

“We finally gave up all hope of being saved.” — Acts 27:20

But Paul, in the middle of that storm, delivers these words of unexpected assurance:

“Keep up your courage… Not one of you will be lost.” — Acts 27:22

Paul wasn’t anchored in the boat. He was anchored in the promise of God. And though the ship did break apart, everyone on board was saved—just as God had said.

What to Remember When Life Feels Like a Shipwreck

Maybe you're in the middle of your own storm—
A health battle.
A broken relationship.
A financial burden.
A season of deep uncertainty.

You’ve tried to hold it together. You’ve thrown things overboard. You’ve lost sleep. And maybe, like the crew with Paul, you’ve started to give up hope.

But here’s the truth:
God is still sovereign, even when your ship breaks apart.
His promises hold, even when your plans don’t.

You don’t need to feel strong to stay afloat.
You need to hold onto the Anchor who is strong for you.

Four Anchor Points for the Soul When Life Feels Unsteady

Hope in the storm isn’t about escaping the waves—it’s about knowing who holds you in the middle of them. Here are four spiritual anchors to hold onto when your soul feels adrift:

1. Scripture: God’s Steady Voice

Memorizing Scripture helps anchor my mind in truth when fear or uncertainty rise. One such verse that has comforted me often is Psalm 57:1:

“Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
for in you I take refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
until the disaster has passed.”

What verse can you memorize and cling to when the waves rise?

2. Community: People Who Hold the Rope

We weren’t made to weather storms alone.

I’m grateful for friends who consistently remind me of God’s goodness—especially when my mind is clouded by my circumstances. They serve as spiritual anchors, gently pointing me back to hope.

Who in your life helps anchor you in faith when you're feeling tossed by the waves?

3. Worship: Resetting Your Perspective

Worship doesn’t change our circumstances, but it changes our perspective.

There’s something powerful about worshiping in the storm—it reminds our hearts who God is. Whether I’m singing old hymns or blasting worship songs in the car, calling on Jesus' name calms my spirit.

One of my favorite songs is by Andy Gullahorn:

“Oh Jesus, Jesus, when my well is running dry.
Jesus, Jesus, Your holy name will satisfy.”

What song centers your heart in the storm?

4. God’s Promises: Unchanging Truth in Changing Times

Here are a few verses that anchor me:

• Isaiah 43:2 – “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you… the rivers will not sweep over you.”
  
  

• Romans 8:28 – “God works all things together for the good of those who love Him.”
  
  

• 2 Timothy 2:13 (NASB) – “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.”
  

God’s faithfulness isn’t dependent on how strong you feel today. It’s rooted in who He is.

Final Thought: Drifting Happens, Hope Remains

Friend, if you’ve felt unsteady lately—emotionally, spiritually, or even physically—I want you to know you’re not alone.

Drifting happens. Storms happen. But our hope is not in our ability to stay put—it’s in God’s ability to hold us fast.

And when you can’t see the shoreline yet, remember:
Jesus hasn’t lost sight of you.
He is still with you, still speaking peace, still steadying your soul.

Reflection Questions

• What storm are you currently facing that feels beyond your control?
  

• Have you “given up hope” in an area where God is still working behind the scenes?
  

• What does it mean to you to “anchor your soul” in God’s promises—even when your circumstances haven’t changed?

A Prayer for the Storm

Lord,
I feel like I’m drifting in a sea of chaos. The waves are high, and the winds won’t let up. I’ve done all I can to stay afloat, but I’m tired. I confess—I’ve questioned Your presence in the storm.

But like Paul, I want to trust Your promise more than I trust what I see.
Remind me that my anchor is not in my own strength, not in my plans, but in You.
Hold me steady.
Let Your hope rise in me again, even in the wreckage.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.