Despite Paul's warning not to continue their voyage because of the Southwest wind in the Mediterranean sea in October, the captain of the Alexandrian cargo ship decided to continue their voyage to the city of Phoenix to anchor there for the winter. Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind, so they gave way to it and were driven along. The wind was so strong that they feared the ship would be swept aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, so they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. They took such a violent battering from the storm that on the next day, they began to throw their cargo overboard. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, the storm continued raging, and they finally gave up all hope for being saved. Paul stood before them to encourage them not to give up because an angel of God appeared to him a night before that no one would lose their lives because he must stand trial before Caesar. The boat would be destroyed, but no one would die. He continued, saying, "So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island." (Acts 27:13-26)
Since God wanted Paul to stand trial before Caesar, why did God not stop the violent wind so they could continue their voyage? When the disciples were in a storm in the middle of the sea of Galilee, Jesus calmed the storm immediately (Mark 4:35-41). However, in the case of Paul, God allowed them to go through the storm to the point of losing hope of being saved. God works in many different ways in our lives. Sometimes God resolves the issues or storms in our lives immediately, but other times, He doesn't. However, He wants us to trust Him in the middle of the storms of life. The disciples in the sea of Galilee and Paul in the Mediterranean sea must believe in God as their savior. Paul completely trusted his life in the promises of God, so he was able to encourage everyone on the ship.
Going through a storm in our lives is not easy. There are times that we want to give up, but let us not give up but trust in the promises of God that he will take care of us. Let our faith in the promises of God overcome our emotions and reasoning because our emotions and reasoning can be clouded by our fear. Paul and everyone on the boat faced an imminent death situation, but Paul trusted in the promise of God. When all our hopes are gone, God is still in control. We can trust Him. He is bigger than the storm of our lives.
Ask yourself these questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully and meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speaks to you). Who do I trust when I face an impossible situation? Do I trust God's promises? Why is it not easy for me to trust God when I face a storm in my life?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, thank you for being bigger than the storm of my life. You have the power to stop the storm of my life, and I pray that I will trust in your promises. Please help me not walk in fear but courageously face my challenges, for you are always with me. Please give me direction, wisdom, and strength to face my storm in life so that I may glorify you in the midst of it. In your name Jesus, I pray. Amen.