Acts 27 has a powerful message in it. I recommend you spend some time reading it. Our pastor preached on it the last 2 weeks and while I've both read and hear it preached before there was still some good lessons to be learned there. One of the first lessons is that the man of God warned them of what was ahead.
Boy, that one rings a bell with me about many storms I've gone through. I thought I knew what was best, I did things my way and I sent myself directly into the storm. It's easy to blame God for the storm and to give up but we could often avoid the worst of the storm if we are on good terms with the Master of the Sea. Just as the centurion in this chapter thought he knew best, we go headlong into the 'hurricane' ahead.
We look about as the storm becomes worse and worse and wonder what to do. How did we get here? Why are we here and how do we handle this? Ever been there? I sure have, far more often than I care to admit.
Sometimes much like Paul, we really do know what was best but our course is not ours to control, someone else was 'in charge' and we go through the storms because they didn't listen to God. Often when the storm rages for days, weeks, months and even years, we feel that all hope is gone. Anyone that says that doesn't happen to them, I admit I'm suspicious of them. :-) Because we are all human, we may put on the mask of never doubting or never having a bad day, but that's just not true.
One of the best parts of the sermon was verse 23, God makes His presence known to Paul. God was there all the time, when the winds were light and as they grew stronger. When the rain was sprinkling and when it was pouring down. When they had gone days without seeing the sun or stars. God was there because He will never leave us or forsake us. But in verse 23, He makes His presence known. He assures Paul of a victory, no life will be lost. It is so awesome when we can see God move, when we can hear His voice.
The devil tries to imitate it, he tries to fool us into thinking what he whispers is really God's voice. He tries to make us doubt what we know. But when God reveals His presence it is unmistakable. And God will send you confirmation, I know this because recently I had it happened. I was 'sure' of what I believed was right but I asked Him to please confirm it because I'm human and I'm weak. He did, in a very real way in a matter of minutes. Now sometimes it takes longer and we just have to hang on and trust. But sometimes He is gracious and gives us our answer immediately.
Erin and I were talking about prayer last night on the way home. She was questioning some things I told her she needed to pray about it. She said 'I prayed about it last night but God hasn't answered'. Trying to explain to an 8 year about God's timing was an interesting conversation. And while she still wants her answer 'now', I think she has a better grip on why it may take time.
God can give peace in the most stressful situations. If you will allow Him to, He can control your words and actions. But that one is hard. While Paul did remind the people on the ship that they should have listened to him, somehow I doubt that is fully what he may have wanted to say about the subject. I mean seriously, guys, I told you what God said, you refused to listen and look at the mess you got us in. You do realize this is your fault, right? But while he did remind them they should have listened he also shared the promise God had given him that no life would be lost. He gave them hope, he gave them something to hold on too.
Then there is the ending of the chapter, they reached that other country. That is where we long to be, it is where all will be joy. No depression, no pain, no hurt, no sickness, there will be eternal joy and peace. I long for that. I'm ready for that. I've seen enough pain, felt enough. I've been through heartbreak, watched as others have gone through. I've questioned how it could be this way. But through it all, I know there is a promise of a better day coming. That is the hope I must focus on.
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