IN THE EYE OF THE STORM

Part 2

Part One referenced Acts 27, so let’s continue our story of Paul while on a raging sea. Though no one perished as promised by the angel (verses 23-24), the ship did wreck and broke into pieces. The men swam and floated on ship parts to an island, named Malta.

You would think that all their problems they have encountered up to this point would have been enough to endure. But no, Chapter 28 in Acts says that a poisonous snake fastened itself to Paul’s hand. What did Paul do? Shook it off! (28:5)

It made me ask the question, “Why was Paul singled out and not one of the other 276 people on that ship”? The obvious answer raises another question, “Doesn’t Satan always try to snare and remove God’s people from their position they hold in Christ?” Satan is always lying to us, trying to make us feel inferior, telling us we are not good enough, trying to wear us down to the point of weariness and hopelessness. But God!

None of us are exempt from storms, Jesus told us that “trials will come, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. Let’s do what Paul did and shake off the snake!

God still had plans for Paul. One of them being – “all of the sick people on this island were brought to Paul and healed.”, found in Acts 28:7-9. Paul did not have the fortitude to know this ahead of time, he just trusted God in all that was happening, every moment of every day. May we have the determination to follow Christ as Paul did!

Paul is a great example for us. Paul was shipwrecked three times, imprisoned several times, beaten with 39-lashes on five different occasions, beaten with rods three times, stoned, (all listed in 2 Corinthians 11). Despite all of this, Paul found true joy in knowing and serving Christ. He expounds on this joy in the book of Philippians. Read it and remember that he was in prison when he wrote this book. He tells us that TRUE JOY comes from Jesus Christ alone! Joy does not come from outward circumstances, but from inward strength. It is the quiet, confident assurance of God’s love and work in our lives, that He will be there no matter what!

God often reminds us that He is greater than the problem, the obstacle, the giant, and the fear. He is a God of miracles who works on behalf of His children, even where we can’t fully see. When confident of this truth, we can fully trust Him.

The fact is – James 1:2-4 tells us that our greatest growth and perseverance come from the hard seasons in our lives. Through difficult places, God brings us to deeper humility and dependency on Him. Remember that in our storms, God is changing us, He is renewing us. God uses our trials to build our faith and perseverance, draws us closer to Him, and gives us a testimony of His faithfulness for others to see.

The sooner we can embrace this truth, the sooner we can be filled with the power of His Spirit over every problem.

Never underestimate His power to handle every crisis in our lives. HE will give us GRACE to respond correctly, with our belief and trust in HIM!

Philippians 4:6-7 – ⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 Jeremiah 29:11 – ¹¹For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:13 – ¹³ And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.