“Last night an angel of God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and 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, NIV)

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Sailing to Italy sounds like a pretty awesome adventure. But imagine for a minute being on a ship with no motor, no GPS, no running water and no electricity. Now imagine you are not a passenger, the captain, first mate or even the cook, you’re a prisoner, the lowest of the low. It would seem your life is completely in the hands of others.  

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In Chapter 27 of Acts, Paul is on his way to Italy in just this situation, but it is clear that God was with Paul through every trial and provided for him in amazing ways to preserve his life and further the Kingdom through his work. At one point in the journey, it became ill-advised to sail anymore due to the time of year. I imagine Paul sensed the Holy Spirit warning against continuing on, because he said, “‘Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.’ But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and the owner of the ship” (Acts 27:9-11).  

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We don’t know the reasons, maybe financial or just plain stubbornness, but the people in charge chose to sail on despite Paul’s warning. Paul was trying to help in this situation and save his own life and the lives of all aboard, but he didn’t have the position of authority to change their course.

How do you respond to challenges in life when you are not the owner or the captain of the “ship”? So often in life we are put into uncomfortable situations not of our own making: maybe the military stations your family in Alaska, the leadership at work changes and the new boss is a jerk, or your mother-in-law who has never been nice to you moves in because she can no longer live on her own. Maybe you could even see the trouble coming, and you spoke up, but you couldn’t stop the ship. You had to sail into the storm.

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Even though the centurion chose to sail them into danger and Paul was stuck on the boat as a prisoner, God did not abandon Paul. God was still sovereign over all things and his plan to use Paul to further the gospel would not be thwarted. After many days and fearing all hope was lost, God gave Paul a new message for his companions onboard. In verse 23, he says, “An angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul.’” Paul knew he belonged to God, and God would be with him no matter what – whether he had power and authority or was a prisoner in chains. They did still have to endure the rest of this tumultuous voyage, but God promised they would survive. Paul told them to have courage because he knew God keeps his promises.

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The chapter ends with the ship running aground, just as Paul had predicted, but not one of the people on board perished. God kept his promise to Paul. Despite the discomfort Paul endured on the boat in a terrible storm for 14 days, God preserved his life. Paul was confident in whose he was and the One whom he served.  

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Where do you see God’s provision in your current challenging circumstances that feel out of your control? How can you put your trust, as Paul did, in the God who both calms the storms and carries us through the storms of life? May God give you a word today to encourage your heart, to have faith that you’ll make it safe to shore.  

Holy and merciful God, sometimes it feels like I am alone on a ship in a storm in the middle of the ocean. Fear and doubt threaten to consume me like the waves crashing into my boat. Help me to remember to whom I belong and whom I serve, that the Creator of the universe is always with me. May I not grow weary in the waiting and may my discomfort be replaced with your peace that surpasses understanding. Thank you, God, for always keeping your promises and always being in control. Grant me the courage to face what comes next. In Jesus’ name, Amen.