The Perfect Storm

Acts 27:13-20;33-37
13When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 14Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the "northeaster," swept down from the island. 15The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. 16As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure. 17When the men had hoisted it aboard, they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. 18We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19On the third day, they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. 20When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.

33Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. "For the last fourteen days," he said, "you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven't eaten anything. 34Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head." 35After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37Altogether there were 276 of us on board.


The perfect storm. That is the setting that I imagine when I read this passage. The disciples and their guards went through a perfect storm, and they survived through it by the grace of God. Going through the perfect storm would test the limits of each person, but Pual through God helped each person and encouraged them and praised God in the perfect storm.

When tough storms come and there seems like no end to things, we need to still praise God through it. Paul broke bread and gave thanks to the Lor while in the perfect storm. God is good, ALL THE TIME, even when we are struggling through it.

Father, I pray that you give me strength to go through my perfect storms. I know that you are awesome and great and I need you with me. Help me to know that you are there with me, let me be able to give thanks and praise you when I am struggling. Lord, I pray that I may be a person who strengthens others and encourages others through their perfect storm. I thank you Lord for all you have done and I give you all the praises in Jesus name.
Amen.