Happy Thursday! The Lord continues His work despite the storms in our lives because some storms show God’s faithfulness and others build us up and increase our faith. Today, we will continue our reading in Acts chapter 27 with Paul bound for Rome. While his travel had been pleasant a storm began to develop in the sea. Join me as we continue in Acts.

Bible verse – Acts 27:7-17

“⁷ We had several days of slow sailing, and after great difficulty we finally neared Cnidus. But the wind was against us, so we sailed across to Crete and along the sheltered coast of the island, past the cape of Salmone. ⁸ We struggled along the coast with great difficulty and finally arrived at Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea. ⁹ We had lost a lot of time. The weather was becoming dangerous for sea travel because it was so late in the fall,^[c] and Paul spoke to the ship’s officers about it.

¹⁰ “Men,” he said, “I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on—shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well.” ¹¹ But the officer in charge of the prisoners listened more to the ship’s captain and the owner than to Paul. ¹² And since Fair Havens was an exposed harbor—a poor place to spend the winter—most of the crew wanted to go on to Phoenix, farther up the coast of Crete, and spend the winter there. Phoenix was a good harbor with only a southwest and northwest exposure.

The Storm at Sea

¹³ When a light wind began blowing from the south, the sailors thought they could make it. So they pulled up anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete. ¹⁴ But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a “northeaster”) burst across the island and blew us out to sea. ¹⁵ The sailors couldn’t turn the ship into the wind, so they gave up and let it run before the gale.

¹⁶ We sailed along the sheltered side of a small island named Cauda,^[d] where with great difficulty we hoisted aboard the lifeboat being towed behind us. ¹⁷ Then the sailors bound ropes around the hull of the ship to strengthen it. They were afraid of being driven across to the sandbars of Syrtis off the African coast, so they lowered the sea anchor to slow the ship and were driven before the wind.”

Reflection

Have you ever been in a storm while out at sea? I have and let me tell you it was horrible. To this very day, I do not enjoy traveling in the sea when a storm is coming or going. The waves will rock a ship all over the ocean and the only exit is into the ocean – so you continue riding out the storm. If you have a good captain you can make it through the stormy seas.

Sisters and brothers, maybe you are going through a storm in your life. Maybe you are feeling your emotions being tossed back and forth, and you are seeking out ways to calm the storm or to get out of the storm. Maybe you heard advice from others or even the Holy Spirit saying don’t do that or go that way because difficulties will ensue but you did it or went anyway.

Despite the reason for the storm, we should always remember and find security in the One who calms any storm (e.g., those in the ocean and those in your life) is our anchor and the greatest captain – our Savior and Lord, Jesus. If you are going through a storm now or are coming out of one I want to give you a few scriptures to reflect on:

• Isaiah 43:1-2
• John 16:33
• 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
• Colossians 1:17
• Romans 8:28

May the Lord who is our Perfect Peace calm your hearts and minds today. May you allow the greatest captain guide you while you are in or coming out of a storm.

Prayer

Father God, thank you for your word. Thank you for your willingness to lead us and change our course. Lord, we may not ever understand why certain storms come our way, but we find peace in knowing you control the storms. While you may not immediately deliver us from the storms you certainly strengthen our faith and resolve to trust in you. Lord, thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you for your perfect peace. Thank you for saving us. Lord, continue to work in us. Lord, continue to strengthen us and draw us in closer to you. Lord, you are our rock and fortress lead us today as we put our trust in you. Continue to heal our nation and remove bitterness from our hearts. Lord go before us today and give us favor in the things we must do while being aligned with Your truth and love. In Jesus name, amen!

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