13-15 When a gentle southerly breeze came up, they weighed anchor, thinking it would be smooth sailing. But they were no sooner out to sea than a gale-force wind, the infamous nor’easter, struck. They lost all control of the ship. It was a cork in the storm.

16-17 We came under the lee of the small island named Clauda, and managed to get a lifeboat ready and reef the sails. But rocky shoals prevented us from getting close. We only managed to avoid them by throwing out drift anchors.

18-20 Next day, out on the high seas again and badly damaged now by the storm, we dumped the cargo overboard. The third day the sailors lightened the ship further by throwing off all the tackle and provisions. It had been many days since we had seen either sun or stars. Wind and waves were battering us unmercifully, and we lost all hope of rescue.

21-22 With our appetite for both food and life long gone, Paul took his place in our midst and said, “Friends, you really should have listened to me back in Crete. We could have avoided all this trouble and trial. But there’s no need to dwell on that now. From now on, things are looking up! I can assure you that there’ll not be a single drowning among us, although I can’t say as much for the ship—the ship itself is doomed.

23-26 “Last night God’s angel stood at my side, an angel of this God I serve, saying to me, ‘Don’t give up, Paul. You’re going to stand before Caesar yet—and everyone sailing with you is also going to make it.’ So, dear friends, take heart. I believe God will do exactly what he told me. But we’re going to shipwreck on some island or other.” (The Message)

A couple of observations:

  1. Christians can, and do, find themselves in storms – severe ones at times, where you just about lose all hope, all light of day. You may get to the point where you despair of life itself. You may feel like you are a ‘’cork’’ , taking a ‘’battering’’ even as you read these words. Some storms are of our own making; many are not. We may find ourselves bobbing around in rough seas because of the stupidity and stubbornness of others. Either way, storms blow up as we make our way through life’s seas;
  2. In our storms, we are not devoid of God’s Word. Our comfort is in Him, and we can count on what He says to us in Scripture. He will always do what He says. In this case, God’s immediate word came to Paul, and through him, to everyone on board that storm-tossed ship. ‘God tells the man who cares’ is the title of a book by A.W. Tozer. The person who walks with God may not only know a calm, stabilising peace, but they can share that calm confidence with those around them.

‘How calm faith makes us! We can sleep soundly amid the roar of the storm and dream of angels when our hearts are stayed on God. His messengers can cleave their way through the murkiest skies and most drenching storms, to succor those who need their help.’ F.B. Meyer.

PRAYER: Lord, help me today to bring your word to some desperate, needy soul. Make me a channel of your blessing, for your glory.