What Does Anchors Aweigh Really Mean?
By Shon Bruellman
Most people misunderstand what anchors aweigh actually means.
It doesn’t mean secure.
It doesn’t mean settled.
It doesn’t mean safe harbor.
Anchors aweigh means lift the anchor, break free from the shore. It's time for the ship to leave what’s familiar and get on the move.
Looks peaceful, doesn't it? That's only because we’re seeing it from far away.
Out there, the water is moving. The wind is unpredictable. The boat isn’t resting—it’s advancing.
That matters, because many of us long for the appearance of peace while clinging to what keeps us motionless.
But Shon, what about when the Bible says:
“We have this hope as an anchor
for the soul, firm and secure.”
—Hebrews 6:19
Notice what Scripture anchors—and what it doesn’t.
The anchor secures the soul, not the ship.
Scripture is precise here. The anchor is for the soul, not for the ship.
Anchors in the water keep a vessel from drifting—but they also keep it from going anywhere. At some point, they must be released. Otherwise, the ship never fulfills its mission.
In real life, the danger isn’t storms. It’s anchoring ourselves to the wrong things.
Security.
Comfort.
Approval.
Control.
When we anchor to the things of this world, we stop trusting the Master.
Jesus warned about this in the parable of the talents. The servant who buried what he was given did so because he believed the master was harsh and untrustworthy. His fear made him cautious—and his caution made him fruitless.
The master’s verdict was sobering:
“You wicked servant.”
The others, who trusted the master and acted boldly with what they were given, heard different words:
“Well done, good and faithful servant.”
The difference wasn’t talent.
It was trust.
If we want to hear those words at the end of our lives, we must do the same thing every faithful sailor eventually does:
Let loose the anchors of this world.
Keep our souls firmly anchored to Christ.
And set sail.
Not because the seas will always be calm.
Not because the winds will always be favorable.
But because God is with us—whether the waters are rough or smooth, whether the wind gusts or goes still.
Ask this honestly before God:
What have I anchored myself to in this world that is keeping me from trusting Christ fully?
Your anchor action this week:
Ask this honestly before God:
What have I anchored myself to in this world that is keeping me from trusting Christ fully?
Don’t rush to justify it. Don’t rush to fix it. Just name it.
A ship was never meant to live in the harbor.
And your anchor was never meant for the sea floor of this world.
Steady with you,
—Shon
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