“Mom, we need to pray urgently for my flight.” My heart lurched when I read the text from my son. Since we live in the Middle East, I hadn’t noticed news of a hurricane back in Texas. Our family hadn’t seen Andres for 9 months, and all summer we’d been looking forward to his visit before school started.
Hurricane Harvey changed our plans. Four hours after Andres arrived to Houston for his flight home, both the airport and the roads around the neighborhood where he was staying closed due to flooding.
“Our electricity may be cut, so I’ll turn my phone off to save power. No news is good news,” read another text.
We’d expected to spend a joyous week as a family reunited, but instead we spent a stressful week on the phone checking on our son, rescheduling his flight multiple times, and watching the heartbreaking news from Houston.
Life changes quicker than you can blink when a storm hits.
And when that storm hits, you need something to hold on to. That’s why Micah Maddox’s new book Anchored In brings us such a powerful message of good news. Anchored In reminds us God’s power can carry us through any storm when we anchor ourselves firmly to Him.
Sometimes big storms bring us to our knees.
Whether our storm is an actual tempest, like the hurricanes in Texas and Florida, or upheaval brought on by life’s hard knocks, we need an anchor. In her book, Micah shares the story of how her dad, a pastor, abandoned his family the same day he left his church one Sunday morning. Micah has gone through tough trials, yet she has a message of hope. God’s power makes us overcomers. No matter our past, He sets us free to live transformed lives today.
Sometimes a small storm knocks us over the edge.
When I finally had to make the two hour phone call to cancel our son’s visit, I made my own tempest in a teapot and threw a big pity party. Of course I realized not seeing Andres for a whole year was small in comparison to losing our lives or a house. I was grateful my son was safe, yet it crushed my heart to see tears in my husband’s eyes and disappointment on my daughter’s face.
Anchored In offered me a bright light during a hard week.
It reminded me that God’s power will transform my thinking and strengthen my heart when I keep my eyes fixed on Him and stand on the truth of His Word. He works all things for our good and His glory.
The book offers hope and wisdom for people grappling with the struggles and problems of life. Micah will encourage you to rely on God’s power and presence to find healing for past hurts and help for today’s challenges. Here are two quotes I liked:
- “As we identify the problems in our lives and shift our focus from our problems to God’s power, we begin the process of living anchored even amid the difficult events of life.”
- “God continues to teach me that as long as I keep my mind on my life and the things that happened to me, my power is limited to my own strength…I need His strength and His words for my life, not my own.”
I especially liked the practical side of the book.
Anchored In offers us real-life stories, scripture, and lots of practical help for learning to rely on and experience God’s transforming power in our minds and hearts. Micah gives us steps we can take to anchor ourselves more tightly to Jesus, no matter what’s going on around us. Follow this link for more information on #AnchoredInBook.
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Boy, Micah’s book couldn’t have been published at a more appropriate time. This is a season of unsteadiness, of unknowns, of uncertainties.
Choosing to lean into Him is our only hope. For sure.
Meanwhile, the big question … when will you get to see your son again? I hear your disappointment, dear Betsy … yet hope is interlaced in your words.
Sending a big hug your way today …
I’ll see him at Christmastime, Linda. 🙂 He’s beginning his fall semester in Paris, so hearing about his adventures is sweet consolation. 🙂
So happy for this consolation, Betsy!
And thanks for sharing Micah’s book! I’m hearing lots of good things, and its release time couldn’t have been better.
Betsy,
Micah’s book sounds wonderful….especially having just been waiting, watching, and worrying about my mom and cousins in the path of Irma in Florida. When we feel that helplessness, how true that we need to focus on the Truth and not on the trauma. If we are anchored in Him we can be overcomers. So many times I have to shift my focus from the circumstances to God’s power!! Much needed reminders here!
Blessings,
Bev xx
The book really is good, Bev. I’m getting so much out of it. Grace and peace to you as you remember your Florida people. You are so right. We are NOT in control of this world, but we’re always in the care of the One who is.
Awww, Betsy, I was about in tears reading about what happened to your joyous get-together with your son. I’m so sorry he wasn’t able to come your way. I so appreciate you sharing your own process of working through the disappointment and regaining perspective.
The book sounds like a timely read for me. Thanks for sharing!
It really is a good book, Jeanne. Blessings to you! I’ll see my son at Christmas.
Oh, Betsy, how disappointing that must have been. I just sat here and tried to imagine not seeing Joel for a year. Yeah….. 🙁 How “God” to have a resource to encourage you and others with Micah’s book. I hope your next visit with Andres will be more than you could ever imagine. Praise God he was safe during the hurricane, too.
That’s right, Kristi. We’re praising God he was safe AND that the family was so nice about having him stay a whole week. (Instead of one day.) Praying for you, your family, and Joel.
Micah’s book seems to have been released at just the right time both figuratively and literally. Thank you for sharing about the book. It had to have been so disappointing for you to have your son’s visit postponed. Glad he was safe through it all. Blessings!
Thanks for your words of encouragement, Joanne. 🙂 Yes, her book came at the right time!
I’m sorry you didn’t get to see your son, Betsy. That must have been so disappointing for you all. I’m glad the book came at the right time. I like the quotes you shared, and I’m sure this book will be a help and comfort to many with all the upheaval and uncertainty there has been these past few weeks.
Yes, I think Micah’s book DID come out at just the right time, for many. Thanks for the encouragement.
Micah’s book is a wonderful read. I’m impressed with how closely you tied it into your situation. I’m praying God’s comfort for your disappointment, Betsy.
Thanks, Sarah. I’m basically over it now. My son and I are very close, so now I’m hearing descriptions of his adventures in Paris, his study abroad semester.
Dear Betsy, what a strong and trusting parent and child (of God) you are! So thankful you had Micah’s book to ease the burdens of uncertainty. I think it’s interesting that sometimes we aren’t certain the anchor is in place until a storm stretches its chain to its limit. Thank you for taking a stressful situation and turning it into a life lesson. Prayers and blessings for peace in the storm.
That’s interesting your point about the storm stretching the anchor’s chain to the limit. So true!
Good day, Betsy! I’m so thankful to be your neighbor again. I pray you will have a glorious day, convinced and affirmed that your anchor holds strong.xoxo
Betsy,
Thank you for sharing Micah’s book and how God used it to comfort you during your own storm. It is hard when you long to see a loved one and your hopes are disappointed.
And I agree with Micah, it makes a difference when we can turn our focus toward God and His promises.
Praying Andres stays safe and for comfort for your mama’s heart.
Thank you for your kind and encouraging words and prayer over my blog.
What a blessing you are 🙂
Thanks for your encouragement, Dolly. I’m praying again for you now. Hope, comfort, grace. May God wrap you in His arms.
AMEN! SO many truths in this post, Betsy. God is so faithful, and I’m thankful that both you and Micah’s book remind us of that!
Yes, he IS faithful, Lauren. So faithful.
I love when God brings the right book at the right time. I hope you get to see your son soon!
Right? I love that too. Christmas will come soon enough, and we’ll see our son then.
Thank you for sharing this book. I love the joy you share in your disappointment.
Thanks for your encouragement.
I’m so sorry you had to cancel the trip altogether, friend. I don’t know why I’d thought y’all had a few hours with him before school began. ((HUG)) God’s timeliness is so gracious–so sweet of Him to make sure you were reading these comforting words when you most needed them. Can’t wait to read Micah’s book. Thanks for sharing today, Betsy. ((xoxo))
Thanks so much, Brenda. I appreciate you! Yes, Micah’s book came at the right time!