April 24, 2026
The Weight That Holds Us Steady
DR. AVRIL OCCILIEN-SIMILIEN
Lee en español
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Hebrews 6:19a (NIV)
Recently, my husband and I went on a cruise for our 25th anniversary. As we rested on the balcony, watching the waves go by, I caught myself imagining what would happen if the ocean decided to get unruly.
The ship would have no choice but to drop anchor. Then the waves may not stop, but they would lose their power to push us off course. We would be held steady by something heavy, strong, and unseen.
That image immediately reminded me of Hebrews 6:19a: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”
If you think about it, anchors don’t get much credit. They’re covered beneath the waterline, doing the quiet work of keeping everything grounded. By definition, an anchor is a heavy object attached to a cable or chain and used to moor a ship, fixing it firmly and securely in one place. Without that secure attachment, a ship does not stay put. It drifts.
We tend to drift in our own way, don’t we? With a few hard hits, disappointments we didn’t see coming, or unanswered prayers … our souls loosen their grip on God. It’s not that we stop believing in Him, but the waves of life wear us out.
Drifting never announces itself; it just happens quietly and slowly. On the ship’s deck that day, it was like I heard a whisper in my heart: Are you drifting?
God invited me to pause long enough to reflect on what my soul had attached itself to for stability and whether that mooring point was actually strong enough to hold me during life’s storms. I had to admit that after facing a series of personal setbacks, my faith was wavering. I felt disconnected and was drifting without direction.
As I searched the Scriptures, I also came across Psalm 62:5, and it hit me like holy correction: “Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from him” (CSB). This truth recentered me and made me thankful for the hope I have in Christ, knowing my faith is secure in the God who is always faithful.
He is the One who holds us steady when circumstances feel unfair, unfinished, or overwhelming. Friend, when life is storm-tossed, when emotions get out of control, when fear or doubt shows up, when insecurity starts rearing its head, this is your reminder and mine: Hope in Christ.
We don’t get to escape the waves, but we do get to choose where we anchor. Christ is steady, trustworthy, and unshaken. Rest your weight there. He is strong enough to hold you.
Lord, when life feels unsteady, teach us to anchor our souls in You. Remind us that hope in Christ is stronger than any storm. Strengthen our faith, settle our fears, and keep us close. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
Sometimes the hardest part of faith isn’t believing in Jesus — it’s knowing how to trust Him when life feels uncertain. When the next step isn’t clear. When your courage feels thin. When you’re doing your best to hold everything together. That’s why the Gospel of Mark is such a powerful place to spend time in God’s Word. In our upcoming First 5 study, Mark: Trusting King Jesus as the One Who Sees You, Saves You, and Never Lets Go, we’ll encounter Jesus in real moments with real people — calming storms, restoring the broken, and meeting people whose faith felt fragile. And as you walk through these passages, you may discover something your heart needs to hear right now: You don’t have to hold everything together — because the King holds you. If you’d like to study alongside us and go deeper into the passages we’ll explore together, you can get the Mark study guide now in the Proverbs 31 Bookstore, where expanded teaching, reflection questions, and guided prayer will help you experience the Gospel of Mark in a whole new way.
ENGAGE
If life feels overwhelming right now, click here to access a list of “Anchoring Scriptures for Stormy Seasons” designed to steady your heart.
For additional resources to encourage, equip, and elevate you on your faith journey, connect with Avril at www.flowtopower.com or follow her on Instagram.
FOR DEEPER STUDY
Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (NIV).
Romans 8:24-25, “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently” (NIV).
Where have you noticed signs of spiritual drifting in your life lately? What would it look like for you to anchor your hope in Christ in this season? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.
© 2026 by Dr. Avril Occilien-Similien. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
