Even In A Storm . . .

³¹ Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.” ³² So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away. Acts 27: 31-32 NIV

Let's begin with some background. Saul was a wicked man who persecuted Christians. One day, while traveling on a road called Damascus, he literally met God and was instantly converted. From that point on, he was known as Paul. He was a new person. While following God's directions for his life, Paul became a prisoner. Several prisoners were being transported by ship and they had met up with a large storm.

Paul was visited by an angel of the Lord on the ship who assured him that everyone on the ship would be saved. However, the ship would have to be destroyed. In other words, the tragedy of a shipwreck was going to be inevitable, but God would save them all.

Paul tried to tell the people on the ship what God has promised them. Yet, they became fearful and started trying to lower the lifeboat to escape the ship. It is at that time which Paul informed them, that if they did not stay on the ship with him, that they would die. The men then cut the ropes of the lifeboat and let it go.

Let's summarize where Paul is right now. He met God. He was converted. God gave him some directions. He followed them. Shortly after, he found himself in a bad situation. God promised him that he would protect him even though he had to endure the tragedy. And finally, the last thing they had to do was to get rid of their lifeboat and later on they even threw over their food supply.

We are not promised that we will not have to endure difficult times. However, if we remain steadfast to what God has asked us to do, then it is entirely possible that we can come out of the difficult times unscathed. Unfortunately, the most difficult part of keeping this type of faith is often cutting our lifeboat and throwing out our food supply. In other words, once we resign to stop trying to save ourselves with our own earthly means and just let go, that is when God will step in and do what we can not do.

It isn't always an easy thing to do, but if God promises that He will take care of you, then He will. We just have to stop trying to do it on our own and let God be God.