“Anchored”—surviving the sea when your ship is tossed

  • Shelly Webb
  • October 22, 2011
  • 380
                        
Summary—No one wants to face a crisis but trials come and faith is tested. Local pastor Doug Gray and his wife Leslie faced a huge storm earlier this year but Jesus Christ, their Anchor held fast. Story--- The apostle James minces no words. He is clear and accurate in his writings. “Consider it all joy, my brethren” James wrote, “WHEN you encounter various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” (NASV James 1:2-3) James could have chosen the word, “if” instead of “when”; but obviously he knew trials in life would most definitely come. Regardless of race, religion, wealth or family fortune every individual faces trials and troubles on the sea of life. Having your vessel anchored in Christ however can make a world of difference as to how well you weather the storm. Local Pastor Doug Gray of Grace Brethren Church in Millersburg and his wife Leslie are emerging from one of the greatest storms of their life. Their relationship with a living Savior and their reliance on His living Word is what anchored them and kept them through the storm. This past spring the Gray’s were enjoying the great anticipation that comes with expecting a new baby. But on April 4, 2011 Leslie was suffering from Pre-eclampsia and extreme toxemia, conditions that can be fatal to pregnant women and their unborn child. “She was physically in bad shape when we arrived at Aultman Hospital that evening,” Gray explained. “Her blood pressure was through the roof and her kidneys were shutting down. Our baby girl was only 24 weeks and 1 day along. The original due date was July 25, 2011. I asked the doctor where the cut off was for trying to save the baby. He told me 24 weeks.” The doctor’s at Aultman were able to stabilize Leslie as they tried to delay the emergency C-section as long as possible. The next day, April 5 however, Leslie gave birth to 1 pound 4 ounce Elizabeth Leah Gray. She was only 12.25 inches in length and was facing her first storm just a few seconds into life. After spending 95 days in the Aultman NICU, little Elizabeth then weighing five pounds was released on July 8, 2011. “She came home on oxygen and a heart/breathing monitor, devices that were intact throughout August,” Gray shared. “She was officially “unplugged” the first week in September. She is currently 10 lbs. and we are very grateful.” The months between April and September, no doubt were difficult for the Gray’s. But during the lowest point of this trial Doug Gray went to the place he knew he could draw strength and peace from, God’s own Words. “There were four passages of scripture that brought me great hope as I sat reading a Gideon's Bible in the ICU lobby that night,” he said. “I read in 2 Samuel 12:23 about David’s son dying just a week after being born. In that passage David said, “I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” David believed through God he would see his son in the afterlife. That gave me hope. I also turned to Job 19:25-27 where Job had just lost everything life had to offer, yet he exclaims, “I know that my redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth, after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God...” In the midst of great brokenness, losing all that he held dear, Job placed his full faith in God as His Redeemer, who would raise him from the dead.” Two other passages Gray drew strength from included Ephesians 1 and II Corinthians chapters 1, 4 and 5. “In Ephesians 1 Paul states that those who are saved “have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will”, Gray said. I knew that regardless God was in complete control so I need not fear. Then in II Corinthians, I read how Paul placed his hope in the “God who raises the dead”. Paul explains here that he has found salvation in Jesus Christ, so he has “this treasure in jars of clay.” Even though his body is cracking like clay, He holds this great treasure within; salvation in Christ. Paul wrote, “we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight, momentary affliction is preparing us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison...” Then, Paul says, when we finally cast off these jars of clay, these earthly tents, “we have a building [new body] from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” Gray believes these scriptures hold the greatest promises; that life is fragile and breaking, and yet when we pass away we will be raised to new life through Jesus Christ. He knew that regardless of the outcome, he would see his baby daughter again and that made all the difference. “When it comes down to it, our greatest fear, our greatest enemy is death itself,” he said. “We can change, modify, fix and heal many things in this life but we cannot change that. At some point we die. We may be able to hold it a bay for a while but at some point it is inevitable. Through our own strength and knowledge and willpower death cannot be overturned. During this crisis death was the ultimate enemy. My peace and surrender comes from a Biblical knowledge of why death happens and that the results of death can be overturned!” Pastor Gray and Leslie have anchored their hope in the truths of scripture. They believe that death came into being because we (all mankind) rebel against God and they also believe that after death every person will stand in front of God in judgment and give an account. “Left to ourselves we will be undone,” Gray said. “We have broken God's laws. Who can stand in the presence of a perfect God and make a defense? We will be condemned for our sins and cast out of God's presence forever in a place of separation the Bible calls hell. Left to ourselves; there is no hope. But God made a way for us to be delivered from this death! He sent His Son Jesus Christ who lived perfectly and willingly died in our place, taking all of our sins (past, present and future) upon himself. Any person who places their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross will not face judgment at death but will stay in his presence in heaven.” Knowing God’s Word and the truths it holds was a great weapon for Gray during this recent trial. He knew that regardless of the outcome his relationship with Christ would carry him through. “My hope was anchored in scripture and truth,” he said. “My wife placed her faith in Jesus Christ. I knew if she died she would stand before God and be acquitted of her sins. I knew she would be in Heaven with God waiting for me. I would see her again. While little is said about what happens when a child too young to confess Christ dies, I took David's words as a great comfort. David believed he would see his son again, so I believed I would see my daughter again. Only this beautiful message of hope in the resurrection through Jesus Christ can give peace and comfort in such a crisis. It is the only anchor that will hold in such a storm and hold it did!”


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