“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil.” (Heb 6:19)
Lately it has become normal for me to deal with the challenge of facing new duties and new technology at work. Learning new skills, finding solutions, and meeting deadlines have become endless battles. However, any worthwhile endeavor involves risk and effort. The possibility of failure is always present. Stress and fear can come upon us like sailing through the turbulent sea amidst a storm.
God knows all our inner fears, including fears that are unknown to us. Several years ago when I received a resignation email of my team leader, I felt very uneasy. Perhaps it was because that I had relied on his guidance for my new job and unconsciously put my trust in him, not God. On the following night, my family had a minor car accident on the highway after attending Friday night church service. When we saw a camper top fall from a pick-up truck in front of our car, it was too late to avoid it. Even though we were able to switch to the other lane, out car still collided with the top and got damaged.
After the accident, I thought about the anchor of our soul mentioned in Hebrews 6:19. Our life journey is like a boat sailing through the sea. From time to time, we may encounter difficulties or unpredictable events, such as hitting a hidden rock under the sea. If the Lord is the captain of our boat, why should we be afraid of the winds and the tides? With these thoughts, I was then released from my uneasiness and we returned home unharmed. It turned out later that the resignation of my team leader not only had no impacts on my job but actually had some benefits.
At another new job, I became ill with the same symptoms four times in a row within a period of a few months. Through my physical illness, God helped me uncover my inner fears. Once I realized the root cause of my sickness, I quickly prepared myself and learned the skills needed to overcome my fears. I have not been inflicted with that particular symptom of sickness since I uncovered and tackled my fear. Behind every challenge, there were blessings of God. That is what I have experienced at work.
It is better to face difficulties and take challenges than always living in fear. Time and again God thinks of us amidst our trials. We can put our trust in God as the secure and stable anchor of our soul. Our anchor is not located in the deepest sea, but in the highest heaven. What should we fear? We need only to trust in God, prepare ourselves, learn new skills, and take the challenges of our job. Be strong and of good courage.