Acts 27:13-38, The Storm at Sea

13When a gentle wind from the south started blowing, the men thought it was a good time to do what they had planned. So they pulled up the anchor, and we sailed along the coast of Crete. 14But soon a strong wind called "The Northeaster" blew against us from the island. 15The wind struck the ship, and we could not sail against it. So we let the wind carry the ship.


16We went along the island of Cauda on the side that was protected from the wind. We had a hard time holding the lifeboat in place, 17but finally we got it where it belonged. Then the sailors wrapped ropes around the ship to hold it together. They lowered the sail and let the ship drift along, because they were afraid it might hit the sandbanks in the gulf of Syrtis.


18The storm was so fierce that the next day they threw some of the ship's cargo overboard. 19Then on the third day, with their bare hands they threw overboard some of the ship's gear. 20For several days we could not see either the sun or the stars. A strong wind kept blowing, and we finally gave up all hope of being saved.


21Since none of us had eaten anything for a long time, Paul stood up and told the men:


You should have listened to me! If you had stayed on in Crete, you would not have had this damage and loss. 22But now I beg you to cheer up, because you will be safe. Only the ship will be lost.


23I belong to God, and I worship him. Last night he sent an angel 24to tell me, "Paul, don't be afraid! You will stand trial before the Emperor. And because of you, God will save the lives of everyone on the ship." 25Cheer up! I am sure that God will do exactly what he promised. 26But we will first be shipwrecked on some island.


27For fourteen days and nights we had been blown around over the Mediterranean Sea. But about midnight the sailors realized that we were getting near land. 28They measured and found that the water was about one hundred twenty feet deep. A little later they measured again and found it was only about ninety feet. 29The sailors were afraid that we might hit some rocks, and they let down four anchors from the back of the ship. Then they prayed for daylight.


30The sailors wanted to escape from the ship. So they lowered the lifeboat into the water, pretending that they were letting down an anchor from the front of the ship. 31But Paul said to Captain Julius and the soldiers, "If the sailors don't stay on the ship, you won't have any chance to save your lives." 32The soldiers then cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall into the sea.


33Just before daylight Paul begged the people to eat something. He told them, "For fourteen days you have been so worried that you haven't eaten a thing. 34I beg you to eat something. Your lives depend on it. Do this and not one of you will be hurt."


35After Paul had said this, he took a piece of bread and gave thanks to God. Then in front of everyone, he broke the bread and ate some. 36They all felt encouraged, and each of them ate something. 37There were 276 people on the ship, 38and after everyone had eaten, they threw the cargo of wheat into the sea to make the ship lighter.

Master, the tempest is raging!
The billows are tossing high!
The sky is o'ershadowed with blackness,
No shelter or help is nigh;
Carest Thou not that we perish?
How canst Thou lie asleep,
When each moment so madly is threatening
A grave in the angry deep?

Refrain

The winds and the waves obey Thy will,
Peace, be still!
Whether the wrath of the storm tossed sea,
Or demons or men, or whatever it be
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean, and earth, and skies;
They all shall sweetly obey Thy will,
Peace, be still! Peace, be still!
They all shall sweetly obey Thy will,
Peace, peace, be still!

I sang this hymn many times as a child growing up in church. I had no clue...

Now I"m older, hopefully wiser, and I absolutely know how frightening life can be. Spouses die. Dear friends divorce, Children wander. Health fails. Careers falter. In a lifetime, there really isn't a lot of reprieve from trouble. Pay attention to it and we live in fear.

Of course, we can focus our attention elsewhere. Paul said "Cheer up!" This wasn't simply a baseless word of encouragement, but a challenge based on his own understanding of what God had planned. God had sent him word that he would surely stand trial in Rome. In order to do that, Paul would have to survive the storm.

Likewise, God has given us word that we will dwell with him forever. In order to do that, this world cannot destroy us. We don't always get such a specific word regarding present circumstances, but scripture is saturated with assurances.

Psalms 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?Psalm 32:7
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Psalm 37:3-4
Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalms 112:7
He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.Psalms 121:7,8
The Lord will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life;  the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forever more.
Proverbs 2:11-12
Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.  Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men.
Proverbs 18:10
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.Daniel 3:17
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king.
John 3:16-18
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.  Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
John 17:11
I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you.  Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name - the names you gave me - so that they may be one as we are one.
1 Corinthians 13:7
Love... it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Remember..."The winds and the waves obey his will!"

Live boldly out there today...