Hymn-ful Sundays! "We Have an Anchor"

This week's hymn is by another female hymnwriter! Priscilla Jane Owens was a 19th century American teacher, who wrote many hymns for the Sunday School students that she taught. This hymn is one of her best-known ones.

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,

When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?

When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,

Will your anchor drift or firm remain?

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.

 It is safely moored, ’twill the storm withstand,

For ’tis well secured by the Savior’s hand;

And the cables passed from His heart to mine,

Can defy the blast, through strength divine.

 It will firmly hold in the straits of fear,

When the breakers have told the reef is near;

Though the tempest rave and the wild winds blow,

Not an angry wave shall our bark o’erflow.

It will surely hold in the floods of death,

When the waters cold chill our latest breath;

On the rising tide it can never fail,

While our hopes abide within the veil.

When our eyes behold through the gath’ring night 

The city of gold, our harbor bright, 

We shall anchor fast by the heav’nly shore, 

With the storms all past forevermore.  

Priscilla Jane Owens

I think it's so interesting that this hymn starts out with a question: will your anchor hold throughout life's storms? Are you grounded in something that will last even in the toughest times. Then in the chorus we all declare that we do indeed have an anchor that is steadfast and sure, and it is fastened to a Rock that will not move. This anchor keeps the soul and is grounded in Jesus' love. What better thing could we be anchored to? What a beautiful metaphor for our reliance on Christ! For without being grounded in the love of our Savior, fastened to that Rock which cannot move, we would be driven and tossed by every wave, every wind, every storm.

Be blessed and shine anchored in Christ!

Subscribe to The Journey Deeper by Email