Trusting God in the Storm I Face (Acts 27-28)

A Few Thoughts to Consider

Are you facing a storm?

Acts 27 picks up with Apostle Paul boarding a ship sailing to Rome as a prisoner to stand trial before Caesar. This is the grand purpose for which God has called him. Despite Paul's earlier warning about the dangers of continuing the voyage late in the season, the centurion and the ship's crew decide to press on from Fair Havens in Crete. Soon after setting sail, they are caught in a violent storm known as a northeaster, which drives the ship uncontrollably across the sea.

The crew takes desperate measures to save the vessel—undergirding it with ropes, throwing cargo and tackle overboard—but the relentless storm shows no signs of stopping. Days pass without the sun or stars appearing, plunging everyone into darkness and despair as they lose all hope of being saved. In this bleak and dire situation, Paul stands up to address the crew and passengers.

²¹ “You men should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete and sustain this damage and loss. ²² Now I urge you to take courage, because there will be no loss of any of your lives, but only of the ship. ²³ For last night an angel of the God I belong to and serve stood by me ²⁴ and said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul. It is necessary for you to appear before Caesar. And indeed, God has graciously given you all those who are sailing with you.’ ²⁵ So take courage, men, because I believe God that it will be just the way it was told to me. ²⁶ But we have to run aground on some island.”

Conrad Gempf notes, “Paul’s speech appears at first to have a touch of ‘I told you so’ about it, but in fact his previous advice is highlighted in order that the ship’s crew might have more cause to believe this latest ‘forecast.’”^[1] He’s showing that that “no amount of experience or shrewd calculation could have given him this assurance.”^[2] He was given a direct revelation from God.

F.F. Bruce writes, “Having received this communication from heaven, Paul was completely persuaded (such was his faith in God) that things would turn out exactly as he had been told. The ship would go down, but the people on board would be saved: they would be cast up or washed ashore on some island or other.”^[3] John B. Polhill adds, “This was God’s purpose, and it would not fail.”^[4]

After Paul's encouragement, the ship drifts for two weeks before wrecking near Malta, where all aboard survive. After three months, they sail to Rome, where Paul accomplishes what God called him to do.

A Meditation to PRAY

Praise | Lord, I praise you for being the ultimate deliverer, guiding me through storms I cannot calm. Thank you for your faithfulness in fulfilling your purposes, no matter the obstacles that stand before me. You are the steady anchor when everything else feels out of control.

Release | I release my worries and fears about the storms in my life, acknowledging that I am not in control. I let go of the burden of trying to fix everything and trust that you are working behind the scenes. Please help me to surrender my doubts, knowing you have already charted the course.

Ask | Lord, I ask for the strength to remain obedient in the midst of trials. Grant me the courage to take the next right step, even when I cannot see the way forward. Please remind me daily that your grace is sufficient, and I can trust your plan fully.

Yield | I yield my desires to control the outcome, understanding that your will is perfect. I commit to following your lead, even when the path is unclear. I place my trust in your power to direct the wind and the waves in your timing.

A Challenge to Act Like Christ  

Like Paul, we sometimes face severe storms that stand between us and the place God has called us to be. It’s here our faith is tested. If we haven’t matured, we’ll be prone to grumble, worry, and fear God’s purposes won’t come to pass.