Pressing Forward Through the Storms of Life

Many of us have gone through rough times and wondered if we’d make it through it all, or die first, or have a heart attack or something else, in any case we wanted it all to end as quickly as possible.  Many of us do not do pain well at all, (I’m in that category). There’s a great story in the Bible about a “Cruise Trip” the Apostle Paul was instructed by God to take, so he could get to Rome and stand trial before Caesar (See ACTS 27: 1-44). When you read this short Cruise Ship story you get to wondering; “Why on earth did God allow this to happen?” And of all things Paul is not a Sailor! The storm is seriously bad! They are drifting wherever the wind pushes them with little control on their part. The ship is being tossed about so harshly they put ropes under it to hold it together! They haven’t eaten for many days. They are sailors, and it’s what they do for a living! But this storm is frightening them fiercely. I would say their skills in sailing had never been tested like this ever before in all the others storms they had already lived through. But, this storm was worse than any others, so much that they wanted to kill the prisoners, jump ship in a small life boat and try to make it to shore! Through all this in the midst of it all Paul tells them this.  

 Acts 27:21-26  21 After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: "Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island." NIV   

I wonder what was going through these guys minds, knowing Paul was not the ship’s captain, but only a passenger!  And, you don’t just tell a bunch of hungry storm beaten, worried and frightened sailors to “Take Courage and do not be afraid!” But isn’t it just like God to calm the very nerves we have that are on end when we turn our problems over to Him. Paul eloquently and with much compassion told them about talking with an Angel, whose I am, and whom I serve, being there in his presence and telling him, all these men will live if they stay with the ship, even though it will run aground. I submit to you we all get frantic and run aground in our walks with the Lord, but the Angel of the Lord our God, Jesus Christ is always with us to see us through whatever harsh times we are going through. He has promised He will get us to our destination if we will abide in him. God Bless you all Love you all Pastor Dan Boyer