At the Mercy of the Storm

“After a day of drifting at the mercy of the storm, they began to throw the cargo overboard…When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved…Land was nearby but they could not recognize it.” Acts 27:18, 20, 39

Paul was on his way to Rome to face Caesar and to stand trial for his life. Paul was being transported by ship as a prisoner when a violent northeaster moved in. (“a wind of hurricane force…swept down from the island” v- 14.) Paul, who had astonishing faith and hope in Christ, even gave up all hope of being rescued. He looked into his storm, saw the odds based on past experiences and reconciled that they would die. He even had the promise from God that Paul would witness to both Jews and Gentiles in Rome but still wavered in his faith.

My commentary, The Believer’s Bible Commentary, states: “For many days they were tossed about helplessly without sight of sun or stars, and thus without the ability to take bearings and find out where they were. Hope of survival was finally given up.” P. 1662

As we face our devastating and exhausting storms we too can ‘give up all hope of being saved.’ It is so tempting to be blinded by the stinging rain in our eyes, and lose our bearings in the darkness. When we face situations outside of our control we also feel that we are at the mercy of our circumstances being tossed around helplessly and aimlessly. Just as Paul had those feelings we also experience those feelings. It is our human nature to fear, to question and to experience helplessness.

The good news is the same news that Paul had after he was visited by an angel of the Lord. “Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul…God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you’…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: 23-26

Text states that they couldn’t even recognize the land but Paul knew that they must experience more uncertainty to be rescued. His uncertainty of his fate was replaced with the certainty of his faith. We must be anchored in our storms to Christ and His promises. “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.” Psalm 62:5

Don’t pull up anchor just because you don’t recognize your land. God uses our adversity to run aground and rescue us.