Faith that sails through any crisis needs a lighthouse in the darkness.
Darkness assaults your faith and hope daily.
- Hope falls
- Emotions flail
- Strength fades
But faith keeps us on course if it has a lighthouse.
Three anchors steady a faith that won’t fail.
Faith-anchor #1: A central reference point
Few things are more valuable than a central reference point.
That’s the first thing Navy pilots learn in survival training.
Find and hold onto a central reference point.
Training pilots are . . .
- strapped into the Dunker
- thrust upside down into the water
They must escape before drowning.
How?
Pause and find a central reference point.
Then . . .
Faith-anchor #2: Wait out the worst
Navy pilots are taught to survive by waiting for the worst to stop.
This helps me in the mind-numbing intros of my crises.
There are times when moving too fast triggers a booby trap.
Yes, it’s wise to move ahead when signs are unmistakable.
But, sometimes the storm takes over, and it’s wise to wait out the worst.
Even misfortune gets tired and needs a break.
Take a break with it.
Then, reach for the big gorilla.
Faith-anchor #3: Follow the big gorilla
Twenty-seven years ago, I needed advice to solve a big problem.
So, I flew to New Orleans to consult my father-in-law.
E.L. Chick Williamson was Chairman and CEO of the Louisiana Land and Exploration Company, a Fortune 500 company. He was a mentor to entrepreneurs and loved solving problems.
After listening to my issue, he said, “That’s a two-drink problem,” which freaked me out.
Then he said, “You’ve made the problem worse by fighting alone. You need a big gorilla. When you’re in the ring, take a big gorilla with you. Focus the problem’s fury onto the big gorilla.”
Simple enough and more profound than I realized!
Faith-anchor #4: No gorilla is more giant than God
My big gorilla is God.
“The Lord is my shepherd . . .” Psalm 23
The power of Psalm 23 is its seventeen pronouns.
Psalm 23:1-6
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
My uncle claims Psalm 23 saved him on his 330 day march with the 35th Infantry Division, 134th Regiment through France, Belgium, and Germany all the way to Berlin.
A fierce WW2 vet, he always came to our house quoting Psalm 23.
Couldn’t make sense of that when I was a kid. Now I know.
Uncle Melvin arranged for Psalm 23 to be inscribed on his tombstone because his faith didn’t fail.
Faith formula for 2024
Faith follows the lighthouse.
Faith will . . .
- zero in on a reference point
- wait out the worst
- follow the big gorilla
Who is your big gorilla?