Storms can be very frightening. Storms can have devastating and lasting effect on our lives. Suddenly the world around you, that seemed so safe and secure, can rapidly disintegrate through forces beyond your control. Sometimes we can see a storm coming and other times it may come suddenly. In the Bible different storms are mentioned, such as when the disciples thought they were going to drown in a great storm on the Sea of Galilee. But of course the disciples didn’t drown because Jesus calmed the storm, just as He can calm any storm we may be facing.
In Acts 27:13-44 we read how the apostle Paul was on board a ship which was caught up in a particularly violent storm in the Adriatic Sea in the late autumn of A.D. 59. Yet Paul, despite being in this seemingly never-ending nightmare of a storm, was saved alongside everyone travelling with him. They made it through their storm. We see some big lessons from Paul’s experience which show how you can survive any storm you are facing right now, whether it is a health storm, a financial storm, a marriage or family relationship storm or a very personal emotional storm. Remain steadfast, trusting that God will see you through, just as He did with Paul.
1. To survive your greatest storm, keep your courage (Acts 27:22-25; Hebrews 11:1)
2. To survive your greatest storm, seek God for your answers (Acts 27:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Philippians 4:6-7; Matthew 7:7; Jeremiah 33:3)
3. To survive your greatest storm, strengthen yourself (Acts 27:33-36)
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Do you keep your courage in a storm and believe that God watches over you and works everything together for the good of those who are His? Paul had an unshakeable spiritual confidence that caused him to give a talk full of hope to all 276 people on board this very battered ship, including the Roman centurion who was guarding him (Acts 27:22-25). To keep your courage means that you must refuse to be dis-couraged by the circumstances you are in. It could not have been easy to keep their courage when the situation was out of their control, but we read that Paul encouraged them not to panic or fear. And he did so because of his faith in God. Courage and faith are closely linked. Paul’s faith in this situation was based on his personal experience of God and on receiving a word from God. An angel is a messenger of God. Angels are mentioned throughout the Bible and are a reminder that there is a supernatural world as well as a physical world. Angels often appear at times of great stress and significance. But whether or not we see an angel, we can keep our courage and faith strong by knowing that the Holy Spirit is always with us and God speaks many promises to us through His word, the Bible. We can receive a clear Word from God in the midst of our storm. We can know warmth inside our hearts even when we are in harsh conditions. In the midst of our troubles we can know that we are not alone. We can discover that ‘God is a very present help in time of trouble, therefore we need not fear.’ That’s what happened to Paul in his storm and it can happen to you in your storm. Faith does not wait to see how things will work out. Faith is being confident of what will work out (Hebrews 11:1). So, keep your courage when everything is shaking about you. Keep believing God in your storm. Declare your faith that God is for you and that goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life. Don’t be quick to give up or become discouraged when you face trials, difficulties, and hardship in your life. Rather always remain confident in God’s power and trust in him.
When you face uncertainty, do you seek the Lord for wisdom and answers? Do you pray on until you receive what you are asking for? During the storm, Paul must have spent a lot of time in prayer (Acts 27:29). God answered his prayer by sending an angel, with a special message to encourage him. But even when He had received a word about the deliverance that was coming, they continued to pray that they would get safely out of the storm. The apostle Paul knew that prayer must be ongoing (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Philippians 4:6-7). Jesus encouraged His disciples in this (Matthew 7:7). It is so important when we are in a storm that we keep looking to God and seeking him for our answers (Jeremiah 33:3).
In what ways do you need to strengthen yourself spiritually and practically to weather the storm you may be facing? It is always good to be strengthened by the support of our families and spiritual leaders and Christian friends. But there are times when we must make a decision to do what we can to strengthen ourselves (Acts 27:33-36). Sometimes strengthening yourself can be both a physical action (e.g. eating a balanced diet, taking vitamins and getting some rest) and a spiritual exercise, like giving thanks to God, reading your Bible, praying and making a decision to rest in God and not stress. For when we really commit to God and we allow God to take control of the reins, we will experience a peace that surpasses all understanding. Instead of worrying and perhaps not eating, we can relax, we can eat, we can sleep at night because we know that God is in control. It is important to look after ourselves and pace ourselves during a storm because we need to be ready to carry on with our mission when the storm blows over. And incredible as it seemed at the time, this storm did end for Paul. And he and everyone else made it safely to land. His story was not over. And yours is not either. Yes storms are inevitable in everyone’s life, but we have a choice on how we will navigate the storm and survive it. Will we allow the wind and the waves to batter us, or will we be like Paul, who took courage through faith in His God? Will we look to God to deliver us and seek his face persistently until he comes to the rescue? Will we allow ourselves to find rest in him? Today even though you may be facing a frightening storm be sure that God is for you and God is with you. He will not let you sink. He will never leave you or forsake you.
