5 Spiritual Anchors for Uncertain, Stagnant, or Turbulent Times
These practices don’t guarantee easy solutions or sudden breakthroughs, but they do offer spiritual stability when life’s waters are choppy and rough.
5 Spiritual Anchors for Uncertain, Stagnant, or Turbulent Times
There are seasons when life feels like a boat drifting without an anchor. The waves of uncertainty, stagnation, or turbulence toss us around, leaving us disoriented and discouraged. The path ahead is unclear. The next step feels elusive. And sometimes, even the faith that once felt solid seems fragile in the face of life’s unpredictability.
Maybe you feel it in your parenting—despite your best efforts, the connection with your kids feels strained. Or perhaps your marriage seems caught in the same unproductive patterns, looping endlessly. Maybe it's a job that no longer fits, or a transition that leaves you wondering if you've lost your way. Whatever the specifics, the feeling is the same: you're spiritually unmoored, unsure of how to move forward.
In these moments, I've learned to return to a handful of spiritual anchors—biblical truths that ground me when life feels jarring and out of sync. These practices don’t guarantee easy solutions or sudden breakthroughs, but they do offer spiritual stability when life’s waters are choppy and rough. The following anchors help me stay connected to God’s purposes, no matter how turbulent the waters become and how unpredictable the winds blow.
Anchor #1: Take the Next Right Step
When life feels overwhelming, it’s easy to get stuck in analysis paralysis or wait passively for clarity. But clarity rarely comes in advance. Instead, it often emerges through action. Taking the next faithful step forward means trusting God with the unknown outcomes.
I remember a recent season of professional uncertainty. I couldn’t see how things would resolve or where the road might lead. But instead of obsessing over long-term answers, I committed to doing the next right thing each day: praying, preparing, and showing up with faith. The result? I didn’t get a roadmap for the future, but I found enough footing to keep walking in trust on solid ground.
Scripture reminds us: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5–6).
The next right step might mean whispering a prayer, sending a note of encouragement, or pausing to breathe deeply when anxiety swells. When life feels overwhelming, ask: What’s one faithful step I can take today? Then take it, and trust God with the rest.
Anchor #2: Glorify God Here and Now
In seasons of confusion, it’s tempting to believe that meaning lies somewhere else. We think clarity and purpose will come with a different job, a new relationship, or a future breakthrough. But the call to glorify God isn’t reserved for ideal circumstances; it's a summons to live purposefully right where we are, right now.
Paul writes, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). Glorifying God means bringing our attention and intention to the present moment, seeking to make even mundane actions sacred by doing them out of heart that seeks to bless God and others.
For the parent exhausted after a long day, glorifying God might mean reading a bedtime story with patience. For the professional stuck in a monotonous role, it might look like doing their work with integrity, enthusiasm, and kindness. For the person grieving, it might mean simply breathing a prayer of surrender or spending unhurried time in lament.
When we stop striving for purpose elsewhere and start seeking God's presence here and now, we find unexpected clarity. Purpose isn’t found in a different context. It’s discovered through faithful participation in our current one.
Ask yourself: How can I glorify God in this moment, exactly as it is? Then respond with faith.
Anchor #3: Reorient Your Heart with Worship
Worship is one of the most powerful ways to reset our spiritual compass. When life feels heavy and the path we’re on seems unmanageable, praising God lifts our gaze from our burdens to His goodness. It reorients us toward what is eternally true: God is glorious, present, faithful, and sufficient.
The psalmist writes, "Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever" (Psalm 106:1). Worship is not about ignoring our struggles; it's about remembering that God is bigger than them.
Worship doesn’t have to be elaborate. Play worship music during your morning commute. Write down three things you’re grateful for. Step outside, breathe deeply, and thank God for His presence. In the act of worship, we stop trying to control every detail of life and instead surrender “God’s will, God’s way, in God’s timing.”
In times of confusion and darkness, ask: What can I praise God for right now? Gratitude has a way of illuminating God's faithfulness even in the fog of uncertainty.
Anchor #4: Seek God’s Kingdom First
When life feels directionless, it's often because our focus has subtly shifted from God's kingdom to our own concerns. Jesus' words in Matthew 6:33 provide a straightforward yet challenging directive: "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Seeking God’s kingdom means aligning our priorities with His purposes. It requires us to step back and ask: What matters most to God in this moment? Sometimes the answer is clear—like extending forgiveness or offering help. Other times, it requires prayerful reflection.
I’ve found that when I let go of my desire for control and instead pursue God’s agenda—loving others, acting with integrity, honouring Him, serving selflessly—clarity follows. We may not know every next step, but we regain a sense of direction and peace.
In moments of uncertainty, pause and ask: What would it look like to seek God’s kingdom here? Then take action accordingly.
Anchor #5: Shift Your Focus Outward
Spiritual stagnation often goes hand-in-hand with self-absorption. When we're overwhelmed, our instinct is to turn inward to analyzing, worrying, and trying to fix things ourselves. One of the most effective ways to break through this inertia is to serve someone else intentionally and sacrificially.
God designed us to live as conduits of blessing, reflecting His self-giving love. In Genesis 12:2, God tells Abraham, "I will bless you…and you will be a blessing." We are blessed not to hoard God's goodness but to extend it.
Blessing someone else doesn't require grand gestures. Send a text of encouragement. Offer to help a neighbour. Buy a gift for someone going through a difficult time. These acts of kindness often catalyze our own renewal. As Proverbs 11:25 says, "Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed."
When you're stuck, ask: Who can I bless today? In serving others, you’ll often fan into flame the spiritual vibrancy you’ve been seeking.
Conclusion: Drop Your Anchor in God's Faithfulness
When life feels uncertain, stagnant, or turbulent, clarity doesn't come from understanding every next step. It comes from anchoring ourselves in God and His kingdom priorities.
These five spiritual anchors offer steadying practices for increasingly unsteady times. They help us stay grounded, connected, focused, purposeful, and hopeful.
The waters may still be choppy. The horizon might remain untraceable. But when you drop these anchors into the depths of God's promises, you’ll find that His grace holds you fast.
Start today. Choose one anchor. Practice it with faith. And trust that God will meet you there, faithfully guiding you one steady step at a time.
NOTE: If you’ve found this post helpful, consider supporting my work through Jeff Strong Teaching Ministries. Your support helps me continue creating content that encourages and equips others to follow Jesus with courage and confidence.
