Acts 27:21-25 (NASB20)
“When many had lost their appetites, Paul then stood among them and said, ‘Men, you should have followed my advice and not have set sail from Crete, and thereby spared yourselves this damage and loss. And yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong, whom I also serve, came to me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has graciously granted you all those who are sailing with you.’ Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told.’”
Introduction: A Storm You Can’t Escape
In Acts 27, Paul finds himself in the middle of a raging storm, not by his own choice, but because of the decisions of those around him. Despite his warning, the sailors and soldiers decide to press forward into dangerous waters, and soon, they are caught in a storm so fierce that they lose all hope of survival.
Some storms in life are like that. Some, we sail into by our own choices. Others, we are forced into by circumstances outside of our control. Whether we caused the storm or are simply caught in it, the truth remains: God has already positioned us beyond it.
Storms Test Our Faith
At first, the sailors did everything they knew to do. They reinforced the ship. They threw cargo overboard. They fought the storm with every ounce of strength they had. But as the days dragged on and the waves didn’t relent, they reached the breaking point—abandoning all hope.
Isn’t that how storms work? They wear us down. They outlast us. We try to hold it together, but at some point, we let the wind take us. Sickness, grief, financial hardship, betrayal—if the storm is fierce enough, it will break even the strongest among us.
But Then God Steps In
Just when all hope seems lost, God sends an angel to remind Paul: “You must stand before Caesar.” In other words, this storm does not determine your destiny—God does. Paul stands up and declares, “Keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told.”
That’s the key. Faith isn’t about pretending the storm isn’t real—it’s about believing that God’s promise is more real than the storm.
Beyond the Storm: Positioned for Purpose
After 14 days lost at sea, the ship runs aground, and all 276 passengers survive—just as God said. But the story doesn’t end there. When Paul reaches the island of Malta, a viper latches onto his hand. The people assume he will die, but Paul simply shakes it off into the fire.
We too, have the power to shake off whatever tries to attach itself to us or poison us! It’s not that it may not sting or won’t catch us by surprise, but it doesn’t have to become part of who we are or end our journey of faith!
That’s the power of being positioned by God! The same hand that should have been paralyzed by poison is soon healing the sick and transforming an entire island!
Whatever storm you’re in, know this: God has already positioned you on the other side. Shake off what’s trying to stop you, and walk in His purpose.
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