Hoisting, Frapping and Anchoring – which do you have to do today?

Hoisting, Frapping and Anchoring – which do you have to do today?

Acts 27:17 “so the men hoisted the lifeboat aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along.”

The sandbars of Syrtis were well known and seamen everywhere feared sailing near them. To hit them meant you were doomed; it was a point of no return. To hit one of the sandbars meant you would be stuck in the middle of nowhere, miles from the shore. They would have had grain for food on the ship but they would have died from dehydration, water all around but none to drink. The storm was pushing them ever nearer this fate and they were very much afraid.

So they hoisted. Their small boat, their lifeboat, was the last way out, losing this or it being damaged beyond repair would mean they had absolute no security. Sometimes it is important to take care of your security. Shepherds need shepherding, parents need parenting and those who look tirelessly invincible are often not. That person who brings you stability may need a little help at times. But also your immortal soul needs refreshing, your heart needs guarding and your mind needs staying on God. Don’t lose what is the most important part of your life. Take care of that person. Take care of you.

So they frapped. They wrapped the ship with cords and ropes to keep it together. They bound it so that it wouldn’t split open. They were taking precautionary measures. They were helping the ship. In any storm of life there are things you can do. You are not doomed yet. It is not over for you. You can love. You can bind. You can wrap your life in the truth of God’s word and not what people say.

So they anchored. That doesn’t mean they were chained to the seabed and could not move. This was the sea anchor or the drift anchor, or better still, this was their brakes. It was an object that dragged in the water behind the boat that kept the boat in a straight line and gave it less freedom to turn and bounce around in the storm. In a storm we all need to know where the parachute is. Basically, stop running frantically, slow down and keep things level and as steady as possible. In quietness and trust is your strength (Isaiah 30:15).

If you are in a storm today try hoisting, frapping and anchoring, you might have to do all 3!