"Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me." Acts 27:25
One of the best things about having a family in Christ is that when we start to look at the storm around us, they remind us of the promises of God. They build our faith and encourage us!
In Acts 27 Paul was a prisoner on a ship in the middle of a storm, and it did not look good. An angel appeared to him and reassured him that he, and the others, would live and not die because he had to appear before Caesar. The Lord needed him to be a witness to spread the gospel. Paul believed the angel and held onto God's promise. He spoke up and led the others with confidence in the Lord. Paul had to give them instruction for survival and encourage them. One thing that stands out to me is that the circumstances didn't change immediately after the angel appeared. They were still in the storm, and Paul had to stand on that promise even before he could see land.
This is what we can do for each other. We can encourage each other when the storm is raging. Reminding each other that the Lord will finish what He starts. He doesn't give us the details of how we are going to get to the vision He has shown us. Often there are detours and obstacles.
I don't think Paul wanted to be a prisoner. I doubt he wanted to be on a ship with hurricane waves and winds. Due to this storm they ended up on Malta, and what is significant about Malta? Well, some people needed healing and they needed to hear the gospel. The Lord had a purpose for the detour!
Today I pray that you and I can learn to praise God even in detours and storms. I ask the Lord to bless you and remind you of His promises! Do not lose heart my friend!
photo by: Matt Hardy on unsplash
Dig Deeper
Galatians 6:9 | Romans 8:28 | 2 Corinthians 4:16