Men are tossed by the winds and waves of storms today with no hope, no power over the storm.  Paul and 275 other men were in a powerful wind-driven storm for 14 days in the Adriatic Sea.

Perhaps you are in such a storm…the winds and waves are beyond your power, your control and you are being swept along.

The sailors tried to abandon ship but Paul warned the soldiers on board that all would die if the sailors left the ship.  The soldiers intervened and stopped the sailors’ actions.

The storm continued to rage…then on the 14th day Paul told the men that his God sent him a message by an angel, “Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.’”  (NASB Acts 27:24)

Paul encouraged those men when he told them he believed their lives would be saved, because his God said so.

The next day Paul again encouraged the men to eat and Paul blessed the food and ate.   The ship neared land and became stuck on a reef.  The wind and waves continued to pound and batter the ship until it began falling apart.

Paul’s life was again spared when the centurion stopped his soldiers from killing the prisoners.  God does that!  He is in command of the storms, the opposition, the designs of men who are against His plan and purposes.

Some of the men swam; others used planks or whatever they could find to get to land through those rough, storm-tossed waves.  (Acts 27:27-44)

Did you notice?  God did not change the circumstances, nor did He give Paul and the other few men who were traveling with him an easy time getting to land.  But get there they did, all 276 men!  Just like God told Paul.  All lives were saved.

God’s people are to believe God’s words and are to act on His promises.

God does not promise to protect us from storms or stress.

God does promise to be with us in our circumstances.

Emmanuel (God with us)

  Stress and storms are a part of every life.  Followers of Christ, stress of any kind is to be given to the living God.

How do we do that?
First – believe God and His words to you.

Second – yield yourself to Him, for His purposes to be completed in you and for you in your circumstances.

Third – know that He is with you in your circumstances.

Fourth – live with courage and encourage others.

Fifth – know God Fulfills His Promises His Way