HOPELESS IN A STORM

• DAY 342
• FEAR FILE: APOSTLE PAUL
• SCRIPTURES: Acts‬ ‭27‬:‭21‬-‭25‬

“But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.” 

Acts‬ ‭27‬:‭21‬-‭25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

In our text today Paul is being transported as a prisoner to Rome but first to Italy. He perceived that their journey would be turbulent but when he tells them, they ignore his warnings and set sail. I mean, who would take the word of a common prisoner? Apostle or not, convicted or not, he was a prisoner. He was speaking by the Spirit, perhaps, but they saw a cool breeze from the south and disregarded Paul. They trusted the cool breeze over a word of prophecy.

True to his word, a tempest arose and the lives of every one were at stake. It was so severe that they threw things overboard and when nothing they tried worked, they lost all hope that they would be saved, including Paul. How many times have we ignored the instructions and warnings of God and found ourselves in a hopeless situation? God said don’t go there but we did and then came the storms raging because there is no safety outside God’s word. If we disregard it because of the messenger or the facts we see with our eyes, we set ourselves up for hopelessness

The hopelessness and fear took away their appetite for food. Sea sickness, hopelessness, and fear are recipes for starvation. But in this hopelessness, God sent Paul a word, “Do not be afraid.” When we have hopelessness staring us in the face, God shows up and comforts us with his word. Jesus is our hope, and those who seek him in hopelessness will always find Him. And when we are too hopeless to seek Him, He is with us and He comforts us. 

Confident in this promise, Paul comforts others and asks them to “take heart.” Suddenly his appetite returns and he encourages the men with him to eat. Paul, a prisoner is encouraging freemen. He did not consider that they might ignore him again. He held on to God’s word and his faith encouraged the men with him. 

Beloved, life is riddled with storms that we invited because we disobeyed the lord or because we were in the custody of people who chose to ignore God’s warnings. Storms are a part of life but God is still with us even in the toughest tempest telling us not to be afraid. Listen to His Spirit as He whispers to you. Do not be afraid.

Shalom.